Gisele P. (C) arrives at the courthouse during the trial of her husband accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan, a small town in the south of France, in Avignon, on September 2, 2024. Christophe Simon, AFP

A court on Thursday convicted a French man of aggravated rape for committing and orchestrating the mass rape of his now former wife Gisele Pelicot with dozens of strangers who he recruited online, after an over three month trial that shocked France.

Dominique Pelicot, who had already confessed to the crimes, was found guilty by the court in the southern city of Avignon.

He faces the maximum term of 20 years in jail when the judge later announces sentencing.

"Mr Pelicot, you are found guilty of aggravated rape of Gisele Pelicot," said the presiding judge of the criminal court in Avignon, Roger Arata, adding his sentence would be announced later in the morning.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, has admitted to drugging Gisele Pelicot for almost a decade so he and strangers he recruited online could rape her.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, has become a feminist hero at home and abroad for refusing to be ashamed, waiving her right to a closed trial and standing up to her aggressors in court.

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Alongside her ex-husband, 50 other men aged 27 to 74 have been on trial, including one who did not abuse her but raped his own wife with Dominique Pelicot's help.

'VERDICT FOR THE FUTURE'

This court sketch made on September 11, 2024 shows Dominique Pelicot in court before being excused from the hearing, for the third consecutive day, to be transported for medical examinations. Benoit Peyrucq, AFP/File

On November 25, prosecutors requested the maximum sentence against Dominique Pelicot for aggravated rape.

It is widely expected that Dominique Pelicot will receive the full 20-year term but considerably more uncertainty surrounds the sentencing of the other defendants.

The prosecution has requested 10 to 18 years in prison against the 49 defendants also charged with aggravated rape. One of these accused is on the run and being tried in absentia.

One more accused -- facing the lesser charge of groping -- risks up to four years in prison. 

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Thirty-two of the accused are attending the trial as free men while the others, including Dominique Pelicot, were remanded in custody.

Earlier Thursday, Gisele Pelicot arrived at the courthouse smiling and cheered by crowds of supporters and feminist activists waiting outside who chanted her name and slogans like "Justice for Gisele" and "Shame has Changed Sides".

"Rape affects women all over the world, that's why the whole world has its eyes on what's going to happen," said Ghislaine Sainte Catherine, one of the members of the Amazons of Avignon feminist collective.

Her children David, Caroline and Florian arrived half an hour earlier, entering the courtroom alongside a group of men accused of raping their mother.

"We came with our things for prison," said one of them, pointing to the sports bags on the ground.

Images of Gisele Pelicot dominated the front pages of major French papers on Thursday.

"A verdict for the future" said left-leaning Liberation. "Merci madame," said L'Humanite, while La Provenance declared "the moment of truth".

© Agence France-Presse