French prosecutors demand 20-year sentence for ex-husband in mass rape case

Gisele Pelicot, 72, was drugged by her husband Dominique and abused by 51 men over 10 years. The case began in November 2020 and it took weeks for police to uncover the full extent of the abuse. Dominique Pelicot has been on trial in Avignon since September and prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison sentence. Prosecutor Laure Chabaud has called the sentence "too light" given the seriousness of the crimes. Chabaud has also criticized French legislation, saying it is a "glass ceiling" that prevents perpetrators from receiving harsher punishments. The case has shocked France, which has seen a number of high-profile sexual abuse cases in recent years.