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| Gisèle Pelicot 'never regretted' opening mass rape trial | Gisèle Pelicot 'never regretted' opening mass rape trial |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gisèle Pelicot: 'I never regretted decision to make trial public' | Gisèle Pelicot: 'I never regretted decision to make trial public' |
| Gisèle Pelicot said that despite a "very difficult ordeal" she had "never regretted" opening the doors of a trial that saw her ex-husband jailed for drugging her and recruiting strangers to rape her. | |
| Outside a courthouse in Avignon, France, on Thursday, Ms Pelicot said she waived her right to anonymity "so society could see what was happening". | Outside a courthouse in Avignon, France, on Thursday, Ms Pelicot said she waived her right to anonymity "so society could see what was happening". |
| The 72-year-old's ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was earlier sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape. | The 72-year-old's ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was earlier sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape. |
| Dominique Pelicot stood accused alongside 50 other men, 46 of whom were found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. | Dominique Pelicot stood accused alongside 50 other men, 46 of whom were found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. |
| In a brief appearance outside of court on Thursday, Ms Pelicot made a short statement in which she said she respected the court and the decision it had made. | In a brief appearance outside of court on Thursday, Ms Pelicot made a short statement in which she said she respected the court and the decision it had made. |
| "I wanted to open the doors of this trial last September so that society could see what was happening - I have never regretted this decision," she said. | "I wanted to open the doors of this trial last September so that society could see what was happening - I have never regretted this decision," she said. |
| "I have confidence now in our capacity collectively to find a better future in which men and women alike can live harmoniously together with respect and mutual understanding." | "I have confidence now in our capacity collectively to find a better future in which men and women alike can live harmoniously together with respect and mutual understanding." |
| She thanked her family and her lawyers, and said she was now thinking of the "unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows". | She thanked her family and her lawyers, and said she was now thinking of the "unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows". |
| She said: "In this moment, my first thoughts are with my three children David, Caroline and Florian. I am also thinking about my grandchildren because they are the future and it is also for them that I fought this battle." | She said: "In this moment, my first thoughts are with my three children David, Caroline and Florian. I am also thinking about my grandchildren because they are the future and it is also for them that I fought this battle." |
| For almost a decade, Ms Pelicot was unknowingly given sedatives by her ex-husband, who admitted to raping her and inviting men he had recruited online to have sex with her in her bed at home while she was unconscious and unaware. | For almost a decade, Ms Pelicot was unknowingly given sedatives by her ex-husband, who admitted to raping her and inviting men he had recruited online to have sex with her in her bed at home while she was unconscious and unaware. |
| Although Dominique Pelicot admitted the charges against him, many of the other men on trial denied what they did was rape. | Although Dominique Pelicot admitted the charges against him, many of the other men on trial denied what they did was rape. |
| Most of the 50 came from towns and villages in a 50km (30 mile) radius of the Pelicots' own village of Mazan. | Most of the 50 came from towns and villages in a 50km (30 mile) radius of the Pelicots' own village of Mazan. |
| Among them were firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers, security guards, a journalist and a DJ. | Among them were firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers, security guards, a journalist and a DJ. |
| Ms Pelicot has attended almost every day of the trial, appearing at the court in her sunglasses just before nine o'clock. | Ms Pelicot has attended almost every day of the trial, appearing at the court in her sunglasses just before nine o'clock. |
| Her decision to waive her anonymity is highly unusual, but she has stood firm at every moment. | Her decision to waive her anonymity is highly unusual, but she has stood firm at every moment. |
| "I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too," she said earlier in the trial. | "I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too," she said earlier in the trial. |
| But she has been clear that behind her facade of strength "lies a field of ruins" and despite the widespread acclaim for what she has done, she is a reluctant hero. | But she has been clear that behind her facade of strength "lies a field of ruins" and despite the widespread acclaim for what she has done, she is a reluctant hero. |
| "She keeps repeating, 'I am normal,' she does not want to be considered as an icon," her lawyer Stéphane Babonneau said. | "She keeps repeating, 'I am normal,' she does not want to be considered as an icon," her lawyer Stéphane Babonneau said. |
| "Women generally have a strength in them that they can't even imagine and that they have to trust themselves. That's her message." | "Women generally have a strength in them that they can't even imagine and that they have to trust themselves. That's her message." |