Husamettin Dogan remains the sole individual appealing his conviction related to the assault of Gisele Pelicot, a French woman whose case captured global attention.
During the ongoing appeal hearing in the southern French city of Nîmes, multiple witnesses have affirmed that Husamettin Dogan was “fully conscious” that Gisele Pelicot was asleep when he committed the assault.
Dogan, a 44-year-old laborer in construction, was among 50 men found guilty last December of sexually abusing Pelicot in a groundbreaking legal case.
Despite his conviction, Dogan is challenging the verdict, denying the label of “rapist” and maintaining that he believed the encounter was consensual.
He stands alone among the convicted men in pursuing an appeal and has been sentenced to nine years in prison, a reduction from the 12 years prosecutors initially requested.
On the second day of the appeal, prosecutors presented evidence aimed at disproving Dogan’s defense.
Among the witnesses was Dominique Pelicot, Gisele’s former husband, who received the maximum 20-year sentence for orchestrating the assaults at their residence in Mazan.
During last year’s trial, Dominique confessed to drugging his wife over a span of more than ten years, enabling himself and numerous strangers he recruited online to abuse her. He also recorded these assaults, which involved at least 50 men.
In Tuesday’s session, Dominique denied coercing or misleading Dogan in any way. “I never compelled anyone,” he stated. “They acted independently.”
He also rejected Dogan’s claim that he was invited to partake in a consensual sexual “game.” “That was never mentioned,” Dominique asserted.
“My only intention is to speak the truth, not to defame anyone,” he added.
Dogan arrived at the Pelicot home on June 28, 2019, where he allegedly assaulted Gisele for over three hours. Dogan contends he only realized something was amiss upon hearing her snoring.
Investigator Jeremie Bosse-Platiere testified, referencing video evidence of the assault to argue that Dogan was clearly aware that Gisele had not consented.
“Anyone viewing the footage can immediately grasp this,” Bosse-Platiere explained.
The police official described a clip showing Gisele shifting slightly, prompting Dogan to pause his actions.
“It’s evident he feared she might awaken and froze in place,” Bosse-Platiere noted.
“After about 30 seconds, interpreting her movement as a reflex from pain, he resumed the assault.”
Authorities recovered 107 photographs and 14 videos from the night of Dogan’s visit to the Mazan residence.
Gisele Pelicot is scheduled to testify on Wednesday morning, with the court’s decision anticipated later that day or on Thursday.
Her courageous choice to forgo anonymity during the initial trial was widely praised for promoting transparency and shedding light on the widespread issues of sexual violence and domestic abuse in France and beyond.
She attended the hearings in person, confronting her attackers in court, and was honored in July with the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian award.
This case has fueled momentum for legislative reform in France, prompting lawmakers in both the National Assembly and Senate to advocate for a clearer legal definition of rape that explicitly emphasizes the necessity of consent. A final version of the bill is expected to be enacted in the near future.
