in france the biggest mass rape trial comes to an end. dominique pelicotjailed for 20 years today for drugging, and raping his wife giselle. 50 other men are also jailed, but were their sentences long enough? luigi mangione facing federal charges in new york following the unitedhealthcare shooting. also tonight lord peter mandelson named as the uk's new ambassador to the united states. the security brief, rare access tonight to a base in england,

where ukrainian front line soldiers are being trained for battle. the man accused of shooting dead the ceo of america's biggest health insurance company has been flown back to new york. luigi mangione dropped his fight to be extradited from pennsylvania earlier today and was flown to new york where he is now appearing in court. they were dramatic pictures. the accused dressed in an orange jumpsuit handcuffed and surrounded by heavily armed police. and today, we learnt he is now facing federal charges over the killing of brian thompson. the new charges include murder through the use of a firearm, and two stalking charges. they come on top of state—level charges already filed in new york, which include first—degree murder. straight to new york, our correspondent nada tawfik is following the story. no phones in the courtroom as in pennsylvania but what you hearing? in pennsylvania but what you hearin: ? ~ . ., ., hearing? we are waiting for u dates hearing? we are waiting for updates from _ hearing? we are waiting for updates from inside - hearing? we are waiting for updates from inside but - hearing? we are waiting for| updates from inside but this hearing? we are waiting for. updates from inside but this is an official arraignment, as you mentioned luigi mangione already inside with his new york lawyer and as she walked

into the courthouse, didn't answer questions but has raised concern these federal judges could have constitutional issues, could be double jeopardy on top of what she called overreaching state charges, karen friedman agnifilo. christian, it is clear officials in new york want to make an example out of luigi mangione to stop the new york mayor following luigi mangione to stop the new york mayorfollowing him luigi mangione to stop the new york mayor following him as he arrived here in new york, was meant to do that dramatic perpetrator walk fund by heavily armed security and police officers. the mayor saying he wants the message to be loud and clear that what he classified as terrorism will not be tolerated here in new york. you just saw given how luigi mangione was paraded in front of the cameras that they are trying to deliver that

message in world and in practice. but as i say, luigi mangione inside now for the formal arraignment and we will see of his lawyer speaks out. in respect of these pictures we are seeing, walking across the tarmac, the apron of the airfield in this orange jumpsuit, this is being done as you say to dampen some of this support he has had in so many quarters in the country, this folk hero status he has developed since the murder. that is something that is very much concerning new york police commissioner, district attorney of manhattan, the mayor in every press conference they have done they have repeated they do not believe that luigi mangione should be celebrated in the way that he has by many on social media. this case is a little different in that it is notjust little different in that it is not just a few fringe figures celebrating him. we are seeing

people looking at brian thompson as representing an industry towards which there is a lot of anger in america. insurance companies accused of essentially profiting off denying people health care. what officials are saying is that you have to separate, you have to understand this type of violence cannot be tolerated or celebrated in any way, this is vigilantism more seen in the fictional city of gotham, not in the real city of new york so they clearly wanted damp down that type of torque. we they clearly wanted damp down that type of torque.— that type of torque. we will come back _ that type of torque. we will come back to _ that type of torque. we will come back to you, - that type of torque. we will come back to you, thank i that type of torque. we will i come back to you, thank you, nada tawfik. news that lord peter mandelson has been named as the new uk ambassador to the united states. he will replace the outgoing ambassador karen pierce. it is a political gamble. lord mandelson was a huge figure during the new labour years, but he has not served in government since then. he was last a minister under

gordon brown, 14 years ago. and within labour ranks it would be fair to see he is "loved and loathed in equal measure". not entirely to the taste of those on the left of the party. but it is an important appointment this. given the concern that focus that is always there on the special relationship. sir keir starmer in recent days has talked about resuming talks over a trade deal. and of course lord mandelson served as business secretary and also european commissioner for trade in brussels. helen catt. one of the names long touted for the show, lord mandelson, he has been cagey about it. one of the names in the frame certainly. two things are striking about him is a choice, the first this comes after many years when actually the top diplomats of the uk centre washington have tended to be civil servants or have a civil

service background, dame karen pierce for example. a political figure, lord mandelson. an unusual move in and of itself, the second thing is really what has driven the choice we believe, as you outlined his experience with trade. his role as a commissionerfor experience with trade. his role as a commissioner for trade experience with trade. his role as a commissionerfor trade in the past, he was the business secretary under gordon brown's government and it is that experience, we know there will be such a focus of that is part of the uk— us relationship under the trump administration that seems to have been behind this choice, also adding to the fact he is pretty close to the prime minister. government source saying it shows how importantly they see their relationship with the trump administration that we are sending someone close to the prime minister with unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade. this has been formally announced, it

has been formally announced, it has not been formally announced, it will come through the foreign office in the usual way. but we understand he has been chosen as the next ambassador.— been chosen as the next ambassador. , , w' , ambassador. just quickly, he was the one _ ambassador. just quickly, he was the one that _ ambassador. just quickly, he was the one that said - ambassador. just quickly, he was the one that said the - ambassador. just quickly, he l was the one that said the party needed to do better in its relationship with elon musk. they did talk, sir keir starmer and the president yesterday, given what happened to lord kim tarik in the way he was ousted, trickyjob. it tarik in the way he was ousted, tricky job-— tricky job. it is but lord mandelson _ tricky job. it is but lord mandelson are - tricky job. it is but lord mandelson are seen i tricky job. it is but lord mandelson are seen as| tricky job. it is but lord. mandelson are seen as a particularly skilled political operator. —— lord mandelson. he is seen at really skilled in political operation, there has been some ground plane that has gone on. , the incoming trump administration was told about this, about this choice, before

he was appointed.— he was appointed. there has been the _ he was appointed. there has been the groundwork- he was appointed. there has been the groundwork laid . he was appointed. there has been the groundwork laid as| been the groundwork laid as well. i have no doubt about that, getting a feeling for what the president thinks. he will need all those skills and thatjob, helen, thank you very much. this is bbc news.

the sordid details of the abuse to which dominque pelicot exposed his wife giselle are shocking. he drugged her, he raped her, and for ten years he invited up to 70 men into their bedroom to do as they please. it's a story that has shocked france, and attracted worldwide attention and commentary. how could a husband be so cruel, so manipulative to a woman he had shared his life with for 50 years? today, after three months of the most lurid testimony, 51 men were found guilty of aggravated rape for what they had done to gisele pelicot. all but two have been sent to jail. her ex—husband will most likely die behind bars, sentenced to 20

years for his crimes. but this case is not only about them, it should be remembered for the bravery shown by giselle. a grandmother who went public, who shifted the shame, from survivor to perpetrator, to encourage other women like her to come forward. we start tonight with this report from our paris correspondent andrew harding. the accused arrived early at the court. faces masked as usual. some with their prison bags already packed. but the crowd here in avignon and the forest of cameras were not here for the men. this trial has in so many ways now become all about this woman — gisele pelicot. herface at least seemed serene this morning. the rape victim who refused to feel shame. inside the crowded courtroom, thejudge quickly got on with the business of the day.

verdicts first, then sentencing for all 51 men. dominique pelicot sat quietly in his glass cage as the judge turned to address him. the defendants will stand up in turn to hear the verdicts. mr pelicot first. the court finds him guilty of aggravated rape. inside the courtroom here, the verdicts have been coming at a furious pace. guilty, guilty, guilty. dominique pelicot has just stood up to be told that he will be sentenced 20 years in prison, the maximum here in france for rape. he showed no emotion, nor did his former wife gisele, sitting quietly on the other side of the courtroom. outside the courthouse, some people celebrated the news. crowd chants. but others were angry that many of the men got lighter sentences than anticipated. "shame," they shouted.

back inside, dominique pelicot�*s lawyer told me her client was considering an appeal. i asked what his mood was like. "fatalistic," she replied. "the way he's always been throughout the trial." and then, after a pause, gisele pelicot emerged to make a short statement. translation: i want to express my deepest gratitude _ to all the people who have supported me throughout this ordeal. i was overwhelmed by your support and i drew from it the strength to come back every day to face these long days of hearings. 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. 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. thank you. it's half a century now since the pelicots met and fell in love. she described him as a perfect husband. but in 2020, dominique pelicot was caught in this footage, filming up women's skirts in a local supermarket. police soon discovered other videos, proving that he'd been drugging his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her as he filmed. translation: mr pelicot desired total control over his wife. - he wanted to reduce her to an object, a possession to be used for his satisfaction. then he could lend this object to other people. and to do all of that, he needed to drug her. and this wasn't his first crime. dna evidence soon proved

pelicot had begun attacking women years earlier. he also took indecent images of his daughter caroline, who was in court today along with her two brothers. she is convinced her father also raped her. this afternoon, pelicot and most of the other rapists were taken away to begin their sentences. there was a moment of tension outside when one of the defence lawyers taunted the crowd... calling them hysterical, then swearing at them. here comes gisele pelicot now, leaving the courthouse for the last time. she has achieved something quite extraordinary here, this courageous public stance. the impact of that will surely ripple through society here, perhaps for decades. she could, like most rape victims, have chosen to remain anonymous at the trial.

instead, listen to the reaction she now receives. cheering. she wanted to change attitudes, and perhaps she has. singing. "rise up," they sing. and with that, madame pelicot, engulfed by gratitude, walks on. andrew harding, bbc news, avignon. joing me tonight helene conway—mouret. she is the senator for french living abroad. she is also the vice—chairwoman of the french foreign affairs and defense committee. are you surprised by the leniency of many of the sentences that were handed out today? sentences that were handed out toda ? , ., ., ., today? first of all, i am relieved _ today? first of all, i am relieved all _ today? first of all, i am relieved all of _ today? first of all, i am relieved all of these - today? first of all, i am | relieved all of these men today? first of all, i am - relieved all of these men were sentenced, i know it ranges from three years to 15 years in prison but at least it shows that it was taken seriously, as

you well know that we still have a problem certainly in france with the leniency of certain sentences when rape is concerned. what this trial has achieved and your coverage is excellent, ifind, is that it has shown first of all that there is an awareness to the fact that rape can also take place in the home and an awareness of the use of drugs as well to perpetrate rape. fin as well to perpetrate rape. on that point. _ as well to perpetrate rape. on that point, if i read the french definition of rape, i think a lot of people would be shocked, it describes it as a sex act committed on someone using violence, threats, coercion or surprise but makes no reference to consent, which is there when it comes to british law in black and white. will the senate look again at this? it will the senate look again at this? , ,.,

this? it is something we will be located — this? it is something we will be located change _ this? it is something we will be located change the - this? it is something we will be located change the law . this? it is something we willj be located change the law in france as well. consent is at the core of this trial. showing apart from the fact gisele pelicot was unconscious when she was raped, of course could not be asked for consent, but it is something that is absolutely essential and something we are working on indeed. . , , . something we are working on indeed. ., , , . ., ., indeed. one aspect of the trial that shocked _ indeed. one aspect of the trial that shocked me _ indeed. one aspect of the trial that shocked me was - indeed. one aspect of the trial that shocked me was the - that shocked me was the question the president of the court put the accused, what kind of neat to have sexually, he asked them, what does that say about the way rape is viewed even within the legal system in french society? has i system in french society? as i said there _ system in french society? as i said there is _ system in french society? as i said there is a _ system in french society? as i said there is a long _ system in french society? as i said there is a long way - system in french society? is i said there is a long way to go for society to move on and have equal rights between men and women, in terms of sexual

assault or sexual violence to be properly defined as it is indeedin be properly defined as it is indeed in british law which is something that we do not have yet. and indeed which leads to these type of questions which are absolutely shocking. and in fact, there were so many women outside of the court, so much support for gisele pelicot, it is because in french society there is this need to move on and her determination and courage to go through this ordeal, and have these type of questions put to her which in effect help us as a society to move on and reject old—fashioned, orsimply things old—fashioned, or simply things that old—fashioned, orsimply things that arejust not old—fashioned, orsimply things that are just not right, to still be used, i think it is helping us to move on. i think there was a lot of because she

was so sober and dignified in her attitude that i think it counters absolutely what she had been put through three these years and even within the trial. —— put through through these years. trial. -- put through through these years— these years. dominic telco recruited — these years. dominic telco recruited men _ these years. dominic telco recruited men from - these years. dominic telcol recruited men from coco.fr, promoting sexual violence towards women. what does the legislation proposed to do about that? —— dominque pelicot. about that? -- dominque pelicot-— about that? -- dominque pelicot. ~ , pelicot. we live in democracies where there — pelicot. we live in democracies where there is _ pelicot. we live in democracies where there is freedom - pelicot. we live in democracies where there is freedom of - where there is freedom of speech. within these social networks we know today legislation is stopping and

condemning anti—semitism, racism, people pushing others to violence accents around. but it is up also to the social networks to be able to control that and actually suppress and stop those sites that have been opened, there is a certain amount of control but