Lower than a 12 months after a landmark verdict in a drugging and rape trial that shook France, an appeals courtroom is about to listen to the case of a person difficult his conviction.
Husamettin Dogan, 44, was in December sentenced to 9 years in jail for the rape of Gisele Pelicot.
Dogan continues to disclaim he supposed to rape Ms Pelicot and is arguing that he was deceived by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his spouse and provided her to strangers on-line earlier than filming the assaults.
The development employee goes on trial on Monday in Nimes, southern France, on expenses of aggravated rape by administering substances that impair judgment or self-control.
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Pic: AP
Within the unique proceedings, Ms Pelicot’s ex-husband and 50 different males have been convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 whereas she was beneath chemical submission.
Pelicot was sentenced to twenty years in jail, whereas sentences for different defendants ranged from three to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
The trial drew worldwide consideration and turned Ms Pelicot into a worldwide icon after she opposed a closed listening to, a requirement made by a number of defendants. The courtroom sided along with her.
The proof included horrific selfmade movies of the abuse that Pelicot filmed within the couple’s dwelling within the small Provence city of Mazan and elsewhere.
On the trial’s opening day, she said: “I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides.”
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‘He was my father… at present, he is a monster’
After the decision, she declared she had “never regretted that decision” and thanked supporters who gave her the “strength” to return to courtroom every day.
Ms Pelicot has since develop into an emblem of the battle in opposition to sexual violence, with the case spurring a nationwide reckoning over rape tradition in France.
Pelicot admitted his function and didn’t enchantment his 20-year jail sentence, now remaining. He’s anticipated to testify in the course of the appeals listening to after being implicated by the remaining defendant.
Of the 51 convicted males, 17 initially filed appeals. Most of these have been withdrawn and solely Dogan pursued his enchantment.
Whereas final 12 months’s trial stretched over 4 months, the retrial is scheduled to final not more than 4 days, with a verdict anticipated on Thursday.
Civil proceedings in Avignon are due in November to settle damages owed to the principle sufferer and her household, to be paid collectively by the convicted males.
