In a court in Nîmes, France, the sentence of Husamettin Dogan, the only man who appealed his conviction for raping Gisèle Pelicot, was increased from nine to ten years. Pelicot, a 72-year-old retired grandmother, was subjected to drugging and sexual abuse orchestrated by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, who allegedly recruited multiple men online over a decade.
Dogan, 44, maintained his innocence despite video evidence presented in court showing him engaging in sexual acts with a motionless Pelicot, who had been drugged. The appeal court rejected his defense, which claimed he did not realize Pelicot was incapacitated. The prosecutor had requested a 12-year sentence, highlighting Dogan’s lack of accountability and the substantial harm inflicted on Pelicot.
During the retrial, which had a jury of 12—nine from the public and three professional judges—previous evidence was reviewed, including footage of Pelicot during the assaults. Dogan claimed he was also a victim of manipulation by Dominique Pelicot, who allegedly informed him that Pelicot would be drugged. However, this assertion was contested by testimonies indicating that the recruits were clearly told about her condition.
Gisèle Pelicot testified, reinforcing her stance as the sole victim and denying any consent. She recounted her neurological symptoms and memory loss resulting from the drugs and expressed her distress upon seeing the footage of her abuse. Additionally, she addressed the personal fallout from this case, revealing strained family relations, particularly concerning her daughter, Caroline, who reportedly experienced similar abuse.
Pelicot emphasized her wish to help other victims of sexual violence, stressing that they should not feel shame for what was inflicted upon them, as it is not their fault. Throughout the proceedings, she expressed a desire to return to anonymity rather than be seen as an icon for victims of assault.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq65e2jdd3lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss