Verdict in the Mazan rape case: sentences ranging from 3 to 20 years for Dominique Pelicot and his co-defendants

The trial of the Mazan rapes, an unprecedented case in France, concluded on December 19, 2024, before the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon. After more than three months of hearings, Dominique Pelicot and 49 co-defendants were found guilty of rape and sexual assault against Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged and abused multiple times. The sentences handed down ranged from 3 years in prison, including 2 years suspended, to 20 years of criminal imprisonment.

Dominique Pelicot: The Instigator of the Tragedy
Dominique Pelicot, described as the “orchestrator” of this criminal scheme, was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 20 years of criminal imprisonment, with a two-thirds security period. He recruited men on the libertine forum Coco.gg (now closed) to rape his wife, whom he had previously drugged. At the time of the verdict, Dominique Pelicot showed signs of despondency but did not react further. He will be entered into the automated judicial file of sex or violent offense perpetrators (Fijais), and his situation will be reviewed at the end of his sentence.

The Co-Defendants and the Diversity of Sentences
The 49 other defendants, aged 27 to 74, received varied sentences depending on their involvement and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances. No acquittals were pronounced, although several defendants claimed ignorance of the victim’s unconscious state or alleged manipulation by Dominique Pelicot.

Harshest Sentences:
The four men who visited the Pelicot couple’s home six times were particularly punished. Jérôme V., Dominique D., Romain V., and Charly A. received sentences ranging from 13 to 15 years of criminal imprisonment. Among them, some will also be required to undergo socio-judicial treatment.
Jean-Pierre M., prosecuted for rapes committed against his own wife, was sentenced to 12 years of criminal imprisonment. Mohamed R., the only defendant judged for events that took place outside the Pelicot home, was sentenced to 8 years.

Other Significant Convictions:
Sentences of 6 to 11 years were handed down for aggravated rapes or possession of child pornography images, with frequent orders for treatment. Among the defendants were recidivists, such as Fabien S., already sentenced 18 times, and Cédric G., described as dangerous by his former partners.

Lightest Sentences:
The minimum sentences, up to 3 years in prison, including 2 years suspended, concerned defendants for whom the facts were requalified as sexual assaults or attempted rapes.

Debate on Intent and Altered Judgment
During the 15 weeks of hearings, several lawyers tried to demonstrate that their clients had been “deceived” by Dominique Pelicot. They referred to a libertine scenario where Gisèle Pelicot pretended to sleep. However, the court found that the evidence, particularly videos, contradicted these statements.

The question of altered judgment was raised for about thirty defendants. While this argument was rejected for most, it was accepted for one schizophrenic defendant, whose sentence was reduced to 9 years.

A Verdict Below the Prosecution’s Requests
The sentences were generally lower than those requested by the prosecution, which had asked for between 4 and 18 years for the co-defendants. In total, 41 convicted individuals were immediately placed in detention, while six were released, mainly due to deferred custody orders for health reasons.

An Extraordinary Trial
This case has marked public opinion due to its scale and brutality. The defendants were confronted with damning evidence, particularly videos showing the victim unconscious and inert. Despite this, several of them denied criminal intent until the very last day.

With this verdict, the court sought to send a clear message, while also considering the individual situations. Gisèle Pelicot, now separated from her husband, hopes that this case will help raise awareness in society about sexual violence and the dangers of online platforms.