The lawyer for Dominique Pellicot, who was sentenced by a French court to 20 years in prison for raping his wife and recruiting others to do the same, says his client will not appeal the verdict.
Gisele Pellicot was repeatedly drugged and raped by dozens of men over a nine-year period.
Guilty ex-husband accepts punishment
“Dominic Pellicot has decided not to appeal the verdict handed down to him,” lawyer Beatrice Zevaro told broadcaster France Info.
Pellicot, who was married to Gisele for 50 years, pleaded guilty and, as requested by prosecutors, the five-judge panel imposed the maximum sentence.
Zevro said Pellicott did not want to subject his ex-wife to the order appeal process.
Pellicote’s fifty co-accused were sentenced to between three and 15 years. Seventeen of them have filed appeals so far. The deadline to appeal ends on Monday evening.
Those prosecuted come from all backgrounds and include truck drivers, soldiers, firefighters, security guards, farm workers, a supermarket worker, a journalist and the unemployed.
Many denied the allegations, saying they believed they were participating in a consensual sex game arranged by the couple and arguing that it was not rape if the husband approved.
symbol of power
Gisele Pellicot has become a symbol of female courage and resilience and chose to go through a public trial to encourage other women to speak out and show that survivors of sexual violence have nothing to be ashamed of.
The case shocked the entire world and protest rallies broke out across France in support of Gisele.
Earlier this month, her lawyer said he was not afraid of a new trial even once the case is over.
Her lawyer said, “She is not afraid. If it should happen, she has already told us that she will face it – if her health is good, of course, because she is 72 years old today.”
kb/nm (dpa, Reuters)