Monster of Avignon is seen arriving at court before pleading for forgiveness from his wife for drugging and abusing her: 50 'rapists' make their excuses while Gisele Pelicot looks on as trial nears its end
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The man dubbed the Monster of Avignon after drugging his wife and inviting dozens of men to have sex with her arrived at court this morning as a judge prepares to announce the fate of his co-defendants who could face 600 years in jail. Dominique Pelicot, 72, invited strangers around to their home to have sex with his unwitting wife Gisele Pelicot after knocking her out with prescription sleeping pills.
![[Dominique Pelicot, 72, invited strangers around to their home to have sex with his unwitting wife Gisele Pelicot (pictured arriving at court this morning) after knocking her out with prescription sleeping pills]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/09/93187155-14196885-image-a-3_1734341076369.jpg)
Details of the unprecedented scale of Pelicot's warped campaign to watch his wife being abused over more than a decade 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, meaning they face more than 600 years in prison.
![[The bravery of his victim wife, Madame 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]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/09/93187081-14196885-image-a-7_1734341443222.jpg)
The only defendant likely to receive the maximum sentence of 20 years is Pelicot himself. He spoke publicly for the last time this morning to apologise for the betrayal of his wife. The retired electrician praised Gisele Pelicot's courage and appealed to her and their children for forgiveness for the terrible ordeal he had put them through by his twisted pursuit of sexual gratification.
![[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)
Sitting in the dock of the Vaucluse Criminal Court, the 71-year-old, said: 'Hello, I would like to start by saluting the courage of my ex-wife, who was forced to put up with the suggestions that she was complicit [in the rapes]. 'I ask her, the rest of the family, to please accept my apologies: I regret what I have done. I am sorry for making them suffer for over four years.
![[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)
