In the Vosges, a man who said he was inspired by “Fifty Shades of Grey” sentenced to 13 years in prison for rape

The accused’s lawyer, who has ten days to make his decision, is considering appealing. As for the plaintiffs, three of whom had joined as civil parties, the lawyers say they are “very satisfied”.

The Vosges Assize Court sentenced a 31-year-old man on Friday April 19 to thirteen years of criminal imprisonment for rape against two former partners as well as violence and sexual assault against a former partner. This man from Mauritius was also sentenced to ban from French territory.

The accused claimed to be inspired in his intimate relationships by the erotic saga Fifty Shades of grey in which the hero of the novel, Christian Grey, initiates his partner into sexual relations where games of domination and submission mix. At the end of a trial which lasted almost three weeks before the Vosges assizes, the Epinal prosecutor’s office requested 18 years of imprisonment, accompanied by a safety period for half of the sentence as well as a definitive ban. of the national territory.

For the victims, “an immense relief”

“The Assize Court followed us on half of the victims since he was acquitted for three out of six”declared Stéphane Giuranna, lawyer for the accused. “We were also followed on the sentence: 13 years, without a safety period”underlined the lawyer. “It’s a decision that we will study to see whether to appeal or not.”, he said. Both the prosecution and the accused have ten days to appeal.

On the side of the victims, three of whom had become civil parties, the lawyers say they “very satisfied”, such as Renaud Gerardin, lawyer for the ex-partner of the convicted thirty-year-old. The latter “Is relieved to have been recognized as a victim.” “She was not denouncing acts of rape, but of violence and sexual assault for which he was found guilty”said his lawyer.

“It is a great satisfaction to see that the Assize Court solemnly indicated today that no sexual practice whatsoever could make rape conceivable”, reacted Carine Deschamps, lawyer for one of the three plaintiffs. For the last one, who also denounced a rape, this decision sounds like “a huge relief”, confided her advisor, Béatrice Founès.