Gisèle Pelicot thanks supporters after 'difficult ordeal' of rape trial as ex-husband jailed for 20 years. All fifty of other defendants were also convicted, with sentences of between 3and 15 years in jail. Also on the programme, the new de facto leader of Syria has told the BBC that the country is too exhausted by war to be a threat to other nations; and, the creator of the Chat GPT artificial intelligence service has set up a WhatsApp account so that its users can get answers to questions using the messaging app. (Photo: Verdict against 51 defendants of mass rape trial in Avignon, France - 02 Dec 2024. GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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Hello and welcome to NewsHour from the BBC World Service.
We're coming to you live from from London.
I'm James Menendez.
And coming up later in the program, the first formal interview with Syria's new Islamist leader.
Ahmed Al Shararra tells our international editor that he doesn't want to turn Syria into another Afghanistan.
There are many differences between Syria and the Taliban.
The way we govern is different.
Afghanistan is a tribal community.
Syria is completely different.
The people just don't think in the same way.
The Syrian government and the ruling system will be in line with Syria's history and culture.
That's in just over 30 minutes.
But we are going to begin today in a courtroom in the south of France and a landmark case that's both gripped and horrified the country and people around the world for the past three and a half months.
The trial of a 72 year old man, Dominique Pellico, accused of drugging and abusing his then wife Giselle for almost a decade and inviting dozens of strangers to come into their home and rape her while she was unconscious.
And it was all captured on camera.
The truly disturbing evidence of their crimes held on Dominique's computer and played in court for all to see.
Well, a little earlier today, he was found guilty of aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
His 50 co defendants were also found guilty, 46 of rape, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault and given sentences of between three and and 11 years.