Dozens of men found guilty in the mass rape case against Gisèle Pelicot

Dozens of men, including Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband, were found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting her in a historic trial that shocked France.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, who pleaded guilty to drugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious over a decade, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the presiding judge at the court in the southern city of Avignon . , Roger Arata.

Another 46 other men were found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault in the high-profile case, according to NBC News’ UK television partner Sky News. They were aged between 26 and 74 and were given sentences ranging from three to eight years.

About 15 had admitted the facts, although only a handful of the accused men expressed remorse in the run-up to their sentences.

Pelicot listened in the courtroom as her ex-husband’s sentence was read out, with a number of other defendants also present in the room, surrounded by police officers.

With emotions expected to run high, around 200 police officers were expected to be deployed in and around the courthouse, packed with family members of the accused, spectators and journalists from around the world. More than 150 journalists were accredited to cover the trial, which many activists see as a watershed moment for women’s rights in France.

This is a development story. Please check back for updates.