AVIGNON, France – The sons of the man who organized the mass rape of their mother Gisèle Pélicot in a case that shook France asked the court Monday to punish him harshly and said they would never forgive him.

Dominique Pelicot admitted in court to having invited dozens of strangers to their home for nearly 10 years to rape his wife, now 71, after drugging her. Fifty other men are also accused of raping her.

“Our family was destroyed,” one of the sons, David Pelicot, 50, told the Avignon court. “I expect from this trial that … these men, and this man in the dock (his father), will be punished for the horrors they inflicted on my mother.”

At one point, Dominique Pelicot interrupted his son’s testimony by saying he wanted to apologize for what he had done. David Pelicot replied: “Never!”

He said he and other family members destroyed photos to ensure they kept no trace of his father.

Speaking at times through tears, David said he hoped the trial would encourage other women to speak out against the rape, echoing earlier statements from his mother who had called for the trial to be held in public to shed light on abuse.

Under French law, she could have kept her anonymity and ensured that the trial was held behind closed doors. The affair sparked protests across France in support of Gisèle Pélicot.

David’s 38-year-old brother Florian told the court of the chaos that followed news four years ago of their mother’s ordeal at the hands of their father.

He said his father died for him. “It’s been four years since I lost my father,” he told the court, at times crying. “Our family was torn apart.”

He asked the court to impose harsh sentences, “so that victims are no longer afraid to speak out.”

Their sister, Caroline Darian, who testified earlier in the trial, again told the court Monday that she believed she was also abused by her father.

“The only difference between me and my mother is that there is evidence (of her mother’s abuse),” she said.

These statements follow weeks of testimony from the accused men, now aged 26 to 74, most of whom deny having raped Gisèle Pélicot.

Gisèle Pelicot must testify again on Tuesday, followed by Dominique Pelicot.

The court’s verdict on all charges, as well as sentencing, is expected around December 20. REUTERS