Nîmes, FRANCE: Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, whose ex-husband recruited dozens of strangers on-line to sexually assault and rape her whereas drugged, arrived in court docket Monday (Oct 6) for an enchantment trial triggered by the bid of 1 man who mentioned he “by no means supposed” to rape her.
Fifty-one males, together with her former husband Dominique Pelicot, had been convicted after an preliminary months-long trial that resulted in December final 12 months and turned Gisele Pelicot into a global icon.
Husamettin Dogan, 44, is the one defendant to have filed an enchantment and maintained it.
“I by no means supposed to take action,” he mentioned, when requested by the presiding decide whether or not he accepted the cost in opposition to him.
“I’m right here as a result of I by no means needed to rape this girl, whom I respect,” he added.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, waived her proper to anonymity and her dignified conduct all through the trial made her a feminist hero and an emblem of the struggle of girls in opposition to male sexual violence.
She arrived to applause on the court docket within the southern metropolis of Nimes, wearing a pink jacket and together with her son Florian – one of many three youngsters she had with Dominique Pelicot – by her facet.
She warmly shook arms together with her supporters, however didn’t make any assertion.
Dogan, who suffers from arthritis and isn’t in custody, made a extra discreet entrance.
Hiding behind a cap, face masks and darkish glasses, he walked up the court docket’s steps, leaning on a strolling stick, an AFP video journalist mentioned.
