Dominique Pelicot Declines Appeal in French Mass Rape Case

Seventeen co-defendants appeal their convictions as Gisèle Pelicot prepares to face a second trial in 2025.

Dominique Pelicot, sentenced to 20 years for drugging and raping his wife and orchestrating her abuse by dozens of men, has decided not to appeal his conviction.
Seventeen of the 50 co-defendants convicted of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault have filed appeals, with a new trial scheduled for late 2025 in Nîmes, France.
Gisèle Pelicot, who waived her anonymity to bring attention to sexual violence, has stated she is prepared to attend the upcoming trial despite the emotional toll.
The appeal trial will differ from the original as it will be judged by a jury of nine citizens alongside three magistrates, potentially leading to harsher sentences.
The original trial, which concluded in December 2024, sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from three to 20 years, with Pelicot receiving the maximum penalty.