Gisèle Pelicot, whose testimony helped expose one of France’s most disturbing rape cases, returned to court on Monday for the appeal of one of the 51 men convicted of sexually assaulting her.
The appeal was filed by 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan, a former construction worker sentenced to nine years in prison for aggravated rape.
He was among the men who assaulted Pelicot after being recruited online by her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his wife over nearly a decade and invited strangers to rape her while she was unconscious.
Dogan claims he believed he was taking part in consensual sexual activity and did not realise the victim was unconscious.
His lawyer argued that intent, a key element in French criminal law should be reconsidered in his case.
Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2024 after admitting to drugging and assaulting his wife in their home in the southern village of Mazan.
Police uncovered thousands of videos he recorded of the attacks, which helped identify the 50 co-defendants convicted alongside him.
Gisèle Pelicot arrived at the Court of Appeal in Nîmes accompanied by her youngest son, as dozens of supporters gathered outside holding banners.
Pelicot, who chose to waive her anonymity during last year’s trial, has become a prominent figure in France’s fight against sexual violence.
The new hearing, overseen by three judges and a nine-member jury, is expected to conclude by Wednesday. Pelicot chose to attend in person despite not being required to, with her lawyers saying she felt it was her duty to see the process through.
During the original trial, Pelicot’s decision to make the proceedings public was seen as a turning point in France’s debate on consent and drug-facilitated assault. Her courage in confronting her abusers has been widely praised, both in France and abroad.
Dominique Pelicot, who remains in solitary confinement, is expected to appear as a witness during the appeal. At his first trial, he admitted his guilt, declaring, “I am a rapist, and all the men in this room are rapists.”
The appeal court’s verdict is expected later this week.
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President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Senior officials from the United States and China met in Paris this week for a new round of trade talks, as the world’s two largest economies attempt to manage their economic rivalry and avoid further tensions.
Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
Russia has imposed a fine of 35 million roubles (around $432,366) on the messaging platform Telegram for failing to remove content deemed illegal by the authorities, according to the Interfax news agency.
Madagascar's president, Michael Randrianirina announced the appointment of anti-corruption chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison as prime minister, six days after dismissing the previous premier along with the entire cabinet.
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