French Retiree Dominique Pellico Convicted for Recruiting 72 Men to Assault Wife Over a Decade

In a landmark case, the Avignon court sentences Pellico to 20 years after his admission of guilt in orchestrating repeated assaults, shaking legal and social foundations in France.

The Avignon court in France this morning convicted Dominique Pellico of all charges against him. Over a decade, Pellico recruited 72 foreign men to rape his wife while she was unconscious. He admitted to all actions during the trial and apologized to his family. The maximum sentence of 20 years was imposed, as requested by the prosecution.

The case of mass rape shocked France and the world. Giselle Pellico's decision to reveal her identity, confront the cameras in court, and testify about her ordeal has made her a symbol of courage and determination for many.

Dominique Pellico, a 72-year-old retiree from the French state electricity company EDF, was tried alongside 50 other defendants, aged 22 to 74, all of whom were convicted this morning: 46 for rape, two for attempted rape, and two for sexual assault. The prosecution demanded sentences ranging from 4 to 18 years.

The police are still searching for over 20 additional suspects involved in the rape who have yet to be identified.