Gisèle Pelicot, 72, whose ex–husband recruited dozens of strangers online to sexually assault and rape her while drugged, returns to court on Monday, October 6th—for an appeal trial triggered by the bid of one man to overturn his conviction.
Fifty–one men, including her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, were convicted at the nearly four–month initial trial that ended in December. However, only one of the men, Husamettin Dogan, has maintained an appeal against his conviction, meaning the new trial must go ahead.
Antoine Camus, Gisèle Pelicot’s lawyer, said:
She understands the attention given to her case, which, beyond her own person, has universal significance.
However, Dogan argues that he was “trapped” by Dominique Pelicot. One of his lawyers said:
He is appealing because he maintains that he never intended to rape anyone. His true adversary is not Gisèle Pelicot, whom he deeply respects, but the man who was her husband.
