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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U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
Thousands of climate demonstrators filled the streets of Belém on Saturday, marching loudly and peacefully to demand stronger action to protect the planet and to voice frustration at governments and the fossil fuel industry.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
A landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Central Java has claimed the lives of 11 people, Indonesia's disaster management agency reported on Saturday. Rescue teams are still searching for a dozen individuals who remain missing.
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