Dominique Pelicot, ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot, is sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape, attempted rape, and aggravated rape of one of the co-accused's wife, as well as for taking pictures of a "sexual nature" of his daughter and two step-daughters.
Immediately after the verdict that Dominique Pelicot was found guilty, the court continued to read out the names and sentences of the dozens of others accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, one by one.
All of them were found guilty, but the sentences are milder than what the prosecution had requested.
The prosecution had demanded prison sentences ranging from 4 to 20 years, but the sentences landed between 3 and 15 years, with the exception of 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The youngest of the accused is 27 years old today, the oldest 74.
Looked at each one
Gisèle Pelicot looked at each of the accused as they stood up to receive their sentence. When it became clear that all were found guilty, she nodded, writes journalist Marion Dubreuil at radio channel RMC on X.
As the sentences were read out, Dominique Pelicot seemed to collapse on his chair and cry, reports BBC.
The interest is enormous for the trial where Gisèle Pelicot's husband Dominique Pelicot has been on trial for drugging and raping his wife, and also for recruiting other men to rape her.
The police have been able to identify at least 70 rapists on films of the assaults that took place in the village of Mazan in southern France, but only around 50 of them have been identified and brought to trial along with the main accused.
Large support outside the courthouse
Early on Thursday morning, a large crowd gathered in front of the courthouse in Avignon where the verdict was announced. One person tells BFMTV that she came there as early as 2 am because she couldn't sleep.
"Thank you Gisèle" reads one of many signs.
The 72-year-old has been hailed as a feminist hero during the several months-long trial for her decision to hold an open trial and her refusal to be ashamed of what she has been subjected to. Some days, she has been met with applause on her way into the courtroom, according to reports in French media.
On Thursday, on her way into court to hear the verdict, she was met with thunderous applause from the crowds who shouted "thank you" and "bravo".
