Gisele Pelicot's 50 'rapists' face 600 YEARS in prison as judge prepares to announce their fate - but only one is likely to receive the maximum penalty
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The 50 men said to have raped French grandmother Gisèle Pelicot while she was comatose after being drugged by her depraved husband will learn their fate this week - and could face more than 600 years in prison. Dominique Pelicot, 72, for more than a decade invited strangers around to their home to have sex with his unwitting wife after knocking her out with prescription sleeping pills.
![[This court sketch created on October 11, 2024, shows defendant Dominique Pelicot (C) looking up in front of his former partner Gisele Pelicot (R) during his trial]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/08/93186205-14196757-image-a-2_1734337416169.jpg)
Details of the unprecedented scale of Pelicot's warped campaign to watch his wife being abused emerged during a trial that began in September and resumes today - a case which has horrified the world. The trial will reach its conclusion with the dozens of men accused hearing verdicts and if they are convicted, the judge will proceed to sentence them to jail terms of between four and 18 years each.
![[The only defendant likely to receive the maximum sentence of 20 years is Pelicot himself, who has been dubbed 'The Monster of Avignon']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/08/93186209-14196757-image-m-4_1734337473262.jpg)
The only defendant likely to receive the maximum sentence of 20 years is Pelicot himself, who has been dubbed 'The Monster of Avignon'. The bravery of his victim wife, Madam Pelicot, in allowing her identity to be revealed around the world - and the dignity with which she conducted herself throughout the trial - has seen the case become a cause célèbre for campaigners against sexual violence.
![[A courtroom sketch shows presiding judge Roger Arata (Top L), public prosecutor Jean-Francois Mayet and defendant Dominique Pelicot in front of many of his co-defendants]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/08/93038337-14196757-A_courtroom_sketch_shows_presiding_judge_Roger_Arata_Top_L_publi-a-5_1734337556337.jpg)
Mme Pelicot held her head high as she heard and watched films covertly taken by her husband of 50 years in which she was abused at least 90 times by strangers he had invited into their home. Having waived her legal right to anonymity in order to ensure the case received the maximum amount of publicity, the 72-year-old grandmother refused to be shamed - but instead repeatedly directed any shame at her abusers.
![[Gisele Pelicot speaks during the trial of her husband with 50 co-accused at the courthouse in Avignon]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/08/93038339-14196757-Gisele_Pelicot_speaks_during_the_trial_of_her_husband_with_50_co-a-6_1734337566800.jpg)
