They said there were 72 individuals suspected of abusing Gisele. 50 men were tracked down and are on trial alongside Mr Pelicot. In addition to Dominique Pelicot, there are another 50 men on trial. Most of the defendants are charged with aggravated rape.

Gisele Pelicot, whose husband Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men are on trial for raping her, gave her final courtroom statement in the shocking case.

Some 50 men are also on trial for allegedly participating in the attacks on Gisele Pelicot, 71, who waived her right to anonymity and insisted the trial in France was held in public to shame her attackers.

French prosecutors asked for the maximum 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, who organised the repeated mass rape of his then-wife by knocking her unconscious with drugs and inviting dozens

Prosecutor Laure Chabaud asked the panel of judges for the maximum possible penalty for aggravated rape — 20 years — against the victim's now ex-husband. Dominique Pelicot, who turns 72 this week, stared down at the floor, one hand on the handle of his cane, as the prosecutor spoke.

Gisele Pelicot, subjected to mass rape organised by her husband over 10 years, on Tuesday condemned the cowardice of the dozens of men accused of abusing her who claim they didn't realise it was rape,

A mammoth rape trial in France moved into a new phase Monday with prosecutors beginning to lay out the verdicts and punishments they want for dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband.

Prosecutors have begun to lay out the verdicts for 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, including her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot. | ITV National News

A mammoth rape trial in France is moving into a new phase with prosecutors setting out the verdicts and punishments they want for 51 men men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged and