talked of her shadows. she talked of her gratitude and people who supported to her, to the associations, the victim associations, the victim associations, those who have given their support to her, how she said the statements of those associations and people have moved her. she expressed gratitude to her lawyers and her legal team. and she ended by talking about having trust and confidence to find a better future in which men and women and like —— alike can live together. that is the statement from gisele pelicot to the awaiting press. it wasn't a particularly long statement. really, it was just a chance for her to publicly thank those who have supported her and worked with her over the last three months. so if we can, can we potentially bring back in my

guest who i was speaking to before we saw it gisele pelicot arrive outside court and give her statement. arrive outside court and give herstatement. if arrive outside court and give her statement. if i canjust ask you for your reaction to that statement?— ask you for your reaction to that statement? well, i am very moved, that statement? well, i am very moved. you _ that statement? well, i am very moved, you know. _ that statement? well, i am very moved, you know. of— that statement? well, i am very moved, you know. of course, i moved, you know. of course, by her courage but also by her understanding that this case is almost beyond her life, you know. she was also fighting, just like she said, for all the families, women, victims, who have to go through the same thing you know, and i think thatis thing you know, and i think that is something very inspiring, actually. and i'm very moved. she isjust inspiring, actually. and i'm very moved. she is just really brave, you know. nobody is surprised, really, because during four months she was so brave. what an example. just like all victims, really brave.

yeah, she made it a political case and i think that is very brave of her.— case and i think that is very brave of her. very brave also to come _ brave of her. very brave also to come out _ brave of her. very brave also to come out and _ brave of her. very brave also to come out and face - brave of her. very brave also to come out and face the - brave of her. very brave also . to come out and face the crowds ofjournalists to come out and face the crowds of journalists and to come out and face the crowds ofjournalists and press, and to say even those few words. she seemed very calm, composed, very together. she seemed very calm, composed, very together-— very together. yes, but you know, if _ very together. yes, but you know, if she _ very together. yes, but you know, if she was _ very together. yes, but you know, if she was crying, - know, if she was crying, shouting, you know, doing all kind of things, it would be ok as well. i would like... we have so many expectations of what victims should look like, you know, and behave. you have very different examples and i think, yeah, she is very inspiring. she is herself, yes. tell me a little bit more about what this means the french society. what this means the french socie . ~ ., . society. well, fourth french society. well, fourth french society it —

society. well, fourth french society it means _ society. well, fourth french society it means that - society. well, fourth french society it means that it - society. well, fourth french society it means that it is i society. well, fourth french society it means that it is a | society it means that it is a case and a subject that you cannot escape, you know. everybody heard about the case, everybody has an opinion... i'm sorry... everybody has an opinion... i'm sor �* ., , ., everybody has an opinion... i'm sor ., , ., sorry... i'm not sure what has happened _ sorry... i'm not sure what has happened there, _ sorry. .. i'm not sure what has happened there, i _ sorry. .. i'm not sure what has happened there, i think- sorry... i'm not sure what has| happened there, i think maybe we have lost communications with you. we will try get back to her in a moment or two. we will try to get communications establish properly. let me bring in my colleague chris who is here with me outside. step a bit closer to me, please. let me ask you first of all, just before gisele pelicot came out to speak, we saw a masked defendant walking out, treated by... tell me a little bit more. i by... tell me a little bit more. , ~' by... tell me a little bit more. , ~ ., by... tell mealittle bit more. , ~ ., ., more. i “ust saw i think one or two more. ijust saw i think one or two coming — more. ijust saw i think one or two coming out _

more. ijust saw i think one or two coming out with _ more. ijust saw i think one or two coming out with police - two coming out with police protection. they were being protected from the crowd outside. why? because some received sentences for four or five years, they have done two years in preventative custody. the rest of the time they are on suspended sentence. because they have done too, that is considered time say they are free to go. considered time say they are free to 90-— free to go. they're still guilty. _ free to go. they're still guilty. given _ free to go. they're stilll guilty, given sentences, free to go. they're still - guilty, given sentences, but because of time already served they are free to go. the crowd obviously not happy about that. there on suspended sentences so if they want to commit something else, they go straight into prison immediately if they do. they were accompanied by some friends of theirs. the one thing we have to realise is that a lot of them, 60 or 70 people were involved in this. they are all from the avignon area, not far from they are all from the avignon area, not farfrom here. so they all come from this area. and that is one of the, kind of, most frightening elements

of, most frightening elements of this case. they were local men, they went men from far—flung places. they were within a 60 comes a radius. look, i went to get some coffee this morning because we started so early. i went to a local cafe and they should be an article about people coming into the cafe who were defendants. he told them, i don't want to back here again, i don't need people like you here. it gives you the sense of animosity towards these 50 developments. there are 20 others who are still at large, don't forget. they have not been identified in the videos. i am sure the police are looking for them and they are fearing a knock on the door one day. i5 fearing a knock on the door one da . , ., .,, fearing a knock on the door one da . , ., , , day. is to remind those with us on bbc news. _ day. is to remind those with us on bbc news, they _ day. is to remind those with us on bbc news, they believe - day. is to remind those with us| on bbc news, they believe that there are 71 men involved in this case but only about 50 of them were identified. thatjust shows you, doesn't it? the sheer numbers involved. this is a really- -- _ sheer numbers involved. this is a really--- i— sheer numbers involved. this is a really... i don't— sheer numbers involved. this is a really... i don't know- sheer numbers involved. this is a really... i don't know if- sheer numbers involved. this is

a really... i don't know if i - a really... i don't know if i can use this phrase, he is a sick poppy, dominique pelicot. not only has he been convicted with a 20 yearjail term, his fingerprints found four years ago matched with a violent rape in paris. he was showing someone around a flat. his fingerprints match those of dna there. what has happened is that they challenged him on that. he first denied it and now he has admitted to it. there is now another woman who was an estate agent and violently murdered and raped, similar circumstances, an estate ancient, wondering whether he was involved in that as well. how evil was he? {leia as well. how evil was he? 0k, chris, thank— as well. how evil was he? 0k, chris, thank you _ as well. how evil was he? 0k, chris, thank you very - as well. how evil was he? 0k, chris, thank you very much - as well. how evil was he? 0k, chris, thank you very much for that. i'm sure you will stay with us and come back in a few moments time. just for those of you who may have justjoined us in the last few minutes, you are watching a bbc news special. i am outside the court room here in avignon where we

bring you continuous coverage of the verdict and sentencing and the end of the trial of dominique pelicot. it is a trial that has shocked and horrified much of france and indeed the world. i'm going to take a moment now to just bring up take a moment now to just bring up to date with how we got here. here is a piece my colleague andrew harding. it all happened here in a quiet village in southern france. a retired electrician, dominique pelicot was experimenting with dragging his wife gisele, pitting her to sleep. 0ver dragging his wife gisele, pitting her to sleep. over the years, the drugs made her increasingly sick.— years, the drugs made her increasingly sick. she believed she had a _ increasingly sick. she believed she had a brain _ increasingly sick. she believed she had a brain tumour- increasingly sick. she believed she had a brain tumour and i increasingly sick. she believed| she had a brain tumour and for ten years she has been going from one doctor to the other. without knowing what was happening to her. in fact, her husband

was contacting local men online, inviting these strangers at night into the couple's bedroom and filming them as they abused gisele's drugged and unconscious body. it is possibly one of the most shocking aspects of this case. how easily he found 50, maybe 100 men in the neighbouring area willing to participate in these scenarios. it's harrowing to think about. because it suggests that it's everywhere? yes. so who were these local men? we've seen them in masks outside the court. the french police eventually identified 50 of them and put them on trial alongside dominique pelicot. one man hasjust agreed to meet me anonymously, his daughter speaking here on his behalf, arguing that her father thought the couple had both consented. translation: he did not understand how this i

could have happened. he was tricked by dominique pelicot. but your father admits that he raped her. he raped gisele pelicot. translation: yes, | but not intentionally. maybe he should be punished. he should have realised. but ten years is too much. it's unfair. but in court, dominique pelicot said the others were as guilty as him. translation: i'm a rapist. like the others in this courtroom. they knew everything. and then, crucially, came the grotesque videos filmed by dominique pelicot, hard evidence that is so rare in rape trials. in the video, you can hear gisele pelicot snoring, so it's absolutely obvious that she is sleeping. and for the defendants, it's very complicated for them to defend themselves and to pretend, "well, i didn't rape her," with this kind of proof.

0ver over the course of this trial, gisele pelicot has somehow eclipsed the accused. an inspiration to so many women. it doesn't take a lawyer, minister, government official to make an impact for women's rights. itjust takes a woman with guts. rights. itjust takes a woman with gute— rights. itjust takes a woman with saute— rights. itjust takes a woman with cuts. , , with guts. gisele pelicot could have remained _ with guts. gisele pelicot could have remained an _ with guts. gisele pelicot could | have remained an anonymous, instead she embraced a public role. the victim who refused to feel shame. andrew harding, bbc news, avignon. the debate now moves towards the future and what to make it easier for the future and what to make it easierfor women like to the future and what to make it easier for women like to sell to move forward. 0ne easier for women like to sell to move forward. one thing they're trying to do in terms of parliament is pushed through legislation with regards to the use of drugs in sexual attacks. have a listen to this.

translation: have a listen to this. tuna/mom- have a listen to this. translation: ~ ., ., ., translation: what we need to do toda is translation: what we need to do today is raise _ translation: what we need to do today is raise awareness. _ today is raise awareness. inform and train the first responders who assist victims. this includes police office, for instance, or doctors in emergency services and even a nurse who might be the first to welcome the victim. it is important to train them in how to listen and collect testimonies. evidence can disappear within 2a to 48 hours. disappear within 24 to 48 hours. for example, proof in blood and you're in can fade away. additionally, we need to change the law. this involves enabling analysis to be conducted, even before a formal complaint is filed say the evidence can be preserved. this allows the victim to take their time before deciding to file a complaint. whenever they feel ready, process the experience, or are able to speak out and proceed with legal action. what proceed with legal action. what difference do _ proceed with legal action. what difference do you _ proceed with legal action. what difference do you think - proceed with legal action. what difference do you think gisele

pelicot�*s bravery has made to this discussion, debate in france? without her, where'd any of this change have been possible? translation: i possible? translation: , , translation: i believe we must first -a translation: i believe we must first pay tribute _ translation: i believe we must first pay tribute to _ translation: i believe we must first pay tribute to her _ translation: i believe we must first pay tribute to her above i first pay tribute to her above all else. acknowledge her courage, dignity, in choosing to make this trial public rather than keeping it behind closed doors. i think, as you mentioned, without this act of bravery, the discussion we are having today would not have been possible. bud having today would not have been possible.— been possible. and that is really the _ been possible. and that is really the crux _ been possible. and that is really the crux of - been possible. and that is really the crux of what i been possible. and that isj really the crux of what has happened to dave. and it is the centre of this case. that is the bravery of gisele pelicot. her bravery in wavering anonymity all those months ago. her bravery in insisting that those videos of her being raped ijy those videos of her being raped by many men were shown in the court, and the baby she showed in coming out in the last few minutes and speaking to

reporters. she was thanking everyone who supported her and talking about her desire for a better future. talking about her desire for a betterfuture. you have been watching and listening to a bbc news special outside the courthouse here in avignon. for more updates on this developing story, do go to the websites or stay with us on bbc news. for those of you who have stayed with us in avignon, let me just bring you stayed with us in avignon, let mejust bring you up to stayed with us in avignon, let me just bring you up to date with the latest lines. that is that, in the last hour or so, all 51 men who were accused of varying degrees of sexual assault and rape against gisele pelicot have been found guilty. their sentences vary from between three to 15 years. the longest sentence reserved for dominique pelicot, 20 years in prison for him. that was after he was found guilty, having

admitted to drugging and raping his wife, and inviting other men to do the same. i'm joined here by our correspondent and my colleague chris botman who has been following the story from the very beginning. chris, i know you live in france, you have been a france correspondent for many, many years. just give viewers and listeners a sense of how this story has developed and are how it has captured the public attention.— attention. yeah, it began months _ attention. yeah, it began months ago. _ attention. yeah, it began months ago. it _ attention. yeah, it began months ago. it has i attention. yeah, it began months ago. it has reallyj months ago. it has really exploded. there has been a lot of talk in france about why there has been so much violence against women. every three days against women. every three days a woman is killed by a partner or ex partner. every time a woman went to a police station to file a complaint about violence, often the police wouldn't take it seriously. so this is all part of that attitude that things have to change in terms of how women are treated, respect for women,

we talked earlier about consent. so, maybe, i'm not going to say it will do because it is quite a conservative country, but maybe things will begin to change. but i cannot guarantee it either. we have had other scandals in the past about violence towards women and things move on. there are some signs, like you said, there could be a law on consent, but the minister of justice who says he wants explicit consent, he is about to leave because there is a new government. to leave because there is a new government-— government. political turmoil in france _ government. political turmoil in france now. _ government. political turmoil in france now. what - government. political turmoil l in france now. what difference does that make, do you think? for different prime ministers in one year. maybe the priorities will change for the new government, we don't really have a government at the moment. what will change for sure, talking about drugging and raping, special medical kits are being set up for women who feel that maybe they have faced the same thing to stop in the future, if it does happen, they can use the medical kit to

go and see a doctor, go to the hospital quickly and get a blood test. that has raised awareness about the live much more and some concrete action could be taken. gisele pelicot, she went to her doctors and kept saying that her hair was falling out, she was constantly sleepy, something was wrong, but they can detect it. maybe because of this, she did thank you the media for voting on this, maybe the medical system, the police, they will take this more seriously.— more seriously. talk to me a bit more _ more seriously. talk to me a bit more about _ more seriously. talk to me a bit more about the _ more seriously. talk to me a bit more about the case i more seriously. talk to me a i bit more about the case itself. it has been since early september, there has been so much evidence, so much argument, counterarguments. argument, counter arguments. 0ne argument, counter arguments. one of argument, counterarguments. one of the kia standout moments was when dominique pelicot stood up and said in court, i am a rapist. that changed everything, didn't it? when do you hear anybody saying that? yes and no. basically, he found

59 raping his wife so he couldn't really deny it. —— 50 men raping his wife. all his fingerprints have been found related to a cold case in paris more than ten years ago. an estate agent was violently raped. the fingerprint is matched and they think he was involved in that. he might also be linked to a murder of another estate agent in another similar case. so, i mean, we are in front of similar case. so, i mean, we are infront ofa similar case. so, i mean, we are in front of a pretty sick personality. we have to see now if there is more to than we think. ~ . ,., if there is more to than we think. . ., ,., ., if there is more to than we think. ~ . ., ., ., think. we also are waiting to hear, think. we also are waiting to hear. aren't _ think. we also are waiting to hear, aren't we, _ think. we also are waiting to hear, aren't we, from i think. we also are waiting to hear, aren't we, from the i think. we also are waiting to. hear, aren't we, from the rest of the family. this impacted the family. carolyn, the daughter of the family. she had photos of her wearing underwear she didn't recognise. she was

seemingly asleep on a bed. there's also photos of her daughter in law as well. this has really blown this family apart. has really blown this family a art. ., , , , ., apart. completely. first of all, gisele, _ apart. completely. first of all, gisele, four _ apart. completely. first of all, gisele, four years i apart. completely. first of all, gisele, four years ago | apart. completely. first of- all, gisele, four years ago she said that her husband was a perfect husband and father. since then, we have then discovered that he actually, you know, in those videos he gave really ciliated commentary on his wife, really horrible things that he said about his wife. he has found his indoor�*s daughters. 0n wife. he has found his indoor�*s daughters. on top of that, he encouraged the men not to even use a condom when they raped his wife. she has actually been infected with sexual diseases as well. of course, she is in very poor health because of all of those medications, sleeping pills that were administered in her drink and food. she has a

wrecked family, erectile. the only thing she saw in that —— she has damage to health. if you heard her speak to earlier, what she wants from this is that men and women of the two sexes can get on well in the future. ., , ., , sexes can get on well in the future. . , ., , , , future. that is a very simple statement _ future. that is a very simple statement but _ future. that is a very simple statement but so _ future. that is a very simple statement but so much i future. that is a very simple i statement but so much behind it. ., statement but so much behind it. . ., , ., , it. yeah, it was indeed. easier said than _ it. yeah, it was indeed. easier said than done _ it. yeah, it was indeed. easier said than done in _ it. yeah, it was indeed. easier said than done in some i it. yeah, it was indeed. easier said than done in some cases. we will see. she has to rebuild her life. and i suspect that she —— some of those 50 who were found guilty will appeal. what does that mean? it means you have a whole new trial, at least for some of them. that means that gisele pelicot might have to face this all over again. her ex husband, dominique pelicot, maybe he will appeal as well. his defence _ will appeal as well. his defence counsel- will appeal as well. his defence counsel said i will appeal as well. his defence counsel said he is thinking about it. he defence counsel said he is thinking about it.- defence counsel said he is thinking about it. he has got

the men delete _ thinking about it. he has got the men delete my - thinking about it. he has got| the men delete my maximum sentence and maybe he will think, what have i got to lose? why not do this again? lets hear if we — why not do this again? lets hear if we can, _ why not do this again? lets l hear if we can, momentarily, from the defence lawyer for dominique pelicot. this is what she had to say about his plans for appealing. translation: i for appealing. translation: 4' for appealing. translation: ~ ., ., translation: i think we are now a art translation: i think we are now a part of- -- _ translation: i think we are now a part of--- we— translation: i think we are now a part of... we have _ translation: i think we are now a part of... we have to _ translation: i think we are now a part of... we have to assume i a part of... we have to assume the responsibility of dominique peiicot— the responsibility of dominique pelicot and the dignity of gisele _ pelicot and the dignity of gisele pelicot. iwill decide after— gisele pelicot. iwill decide after ten years. so the 29th of december —— ten days, whether we will— december —— ten days, whether we will appeal this verdict is given — we will appeal this verdict is given i_ we will appeal this verdict is given. i think, we will appeal this verdict is given. ithink, i we will appeal this verdict is given. i think, i was staying at the — given. i think, i was staying at the beginning of the debate, that mr— at the beginning of the debate, that mr pelicot was not the conductor, the chief orchestra of this — conductor, the chief orchestra of this. the verdict condemned conductor. _

of this. the verdict condemned conductor, making a difference between — conductor, making a difference between him and the other musicians, if you like, of thism _ musicians, if you like, of this... ~ ., musicians, if you like, of this... ~ . , , .,~ this... we are “ust breaking out of this. .. we are “ust breaking automat— this... we are just breaking out of that clip _ this... we are just breaking out of that clip to _ this... we are just breaking out of that clip to take i this... we are just breaking out of that clip to take you | out of that clip to take you live to the outside of the courtroom. we are expecting gisele pelicot to exit the court to and leave the court to. we are just waiting for her to. we are just waiting for her to come out to leave the court room any second now. just to remind you that if you moments ago gisele came out to the press pack and talked to the press pack and talked to the press about her gratitude to her legal team, all of those people who supported her. and she also talked about wanting to ensure a better future in which men and women could get on better together. you can see how there. that might even see

her there. there are cheers as she walks out. she looks very comfortable, very confident. she is flanked by security guards as she was when she first came in. french media, obviously, throwing questions at her as she leaves. but she is not answering them. cheering and cheering and applause cheering and applause

cheering we have kind of lost sight a little bit of gisele. there she is. a better angle there. this is. a better angle there. this is as she leaves court, absolutely mobbed. she is being mobbed by supporters and

activists as she leaves. they have applauded her in the way that they have applauded her every day that she arrived. cheering and the crowds are running along the road, the police have closed the road. the crowd are running along the road to try and follow gisele as she makes her way past the front of the building. there are people filming the scene, staring out of windows, looking down from buildings surrounding the courthouse. there are people rushing past me now, trying to get a better view, to catch a glimpse of the woman who has been at the centre of this incredible upsetting, horrendous case. and who everyone agrees has shown a huge amount of bravery and

courage. she is poised. applause she hasjust got applause she has just got into the car. she has just got into the car. she will be driven away now and gisele pelicot has always said that she just wants to go back to a life of solitude. she wants to be alone. she wants to digester and process what has happened to her. maybe in some way that hasn't been possible during this trial. the car is

taking gisele and her team away from the courthouse, from what i am sure she hopes is the final time. i am sure she hopes is the finaltime. leaving i am sure she hopes is the final time. leaving to the applause of the crowd. there are a few screams. and she has gone. applause so, we are nearing the end of this bbc news special. you have been with us, if you have been with us for the last eight hours, thank you, we have now come to the end of this part of the story. but the story will continue. the story will continue. the story will continue because, as we heard

there from the many activists and politicians that we have spoken to over the last few hours, they believe there is much to do in france and much to learn from the gisele pelicot case. her ex—husband, dominique, and the majority of the 51 men who have been found guilty of these crimes, prepare for their time injail, guilty of these crimes, prepare fortheirtime injail, it guilty of these crimes, prepare for their time injail, it is a moment perhaps for french society and for france as a whole to really hold a mirror up whole to really hold a mirror up to itself and to raise awareness of violence against women. and to show that rape survivors like to sell have a voice. —— like gisele. you can hear daddy singing —— you can

hear daddy singing —— you can hear the singing of the crowds. they have been singing throughout this trial. it has been difficult, hasn't it, for so many people around the country to digester and process what has happened. but perhaps now, at the end of this trial, they can in some way gets the closure that so many people have wanted. gisele pelicot�*s bravery has been underlined and has been a key element of this case. i am are turning our attention to the rest of the day's r i ws. are turning our attention to the rest of the day's r i am maryam moshiri and you have element of this case. i am maryam moshiri and you have been with me covering the end been with me covering the end

of the trial of dominique of the trial of dominique pelicot. for more on the story, pelicot. for more on the story, as always, you can go to the as always, you can go to the bbc�*s website. we have a live bbc�*s website. we have a live page they're being updated. page they're being updated. from me and the team here in from me and the team here in avignon, and the team in avignon, and the team in london, thank you for watching. london, thank you for watching. goodbye. goodbye. london, thank you for watching. goodb e. �* ., ~ , london, thank you for watching. goodb e. ., ~ london, thank you for watching. goodbye. and thank you very goodbye- _ goodbye. and thank you very much to my _ goodbye. and thank you very much to my colleague - goodbye. and thank you very l much to my colleague maryam much to my _ goodbye. and thank you very much to my colleague - goodbye. and thank you very. much to my colleague maryam moshiri. as she said, you can moshiri. as she said, you can continue to watch the action on continue to watch the action on the bbc news website or indeed the bbc news website or indeed iplayer, as we have been saying iplayer, as we have been saying in the last hour, gisele in the last hour, gisele pelicot thanked supporters pelicot thanked supporters after her ex—husband was jailed for 20 years for dragging and recruiting strangers to rape her. you are with bbc news and we are turning our attention to the rest of the day's news.