A 72-year-old survivor of mass rape, Gisèle Pélicot, is scheduled to return to court this week as one of the men convicted of sexually assaulting her has lodged an appeal against his verdict.
Husamettin Dogan, aged 44, received a nine-year prison sentence for the rape of Pélicot. During the initial trial last year, Dogan claimed he believed the act was part of a game.
The accused, originally from Turkey, initiated contact with Gisèle’s husband, Dominique Pélicot, also known as The Beast of Avignon, through an online chatroom. Dominique informed Dogan that his wife was interested in engaging with an “Arab” man. Subsequently, Dogan visited the Pélicot residence, where he sexually assaulted the unconscious Gisèle.
In his defense, Dogan stated that Gisèle appeared lifeless to him, assuming it was all part of a charade. During the trial, he maintained, “I’m not a rapist, that’s too heavy for me to bear.” His legal representative declined to provide any comments ahead of the appeal hearing.
The shocking trial involving 51 men, including a soldier, a firefighter, and a nurse, has garnered global attention. Gisèle was drugged by her husband and subjected to 92 instances of rape by strangers he invited into their bedroom between 2011 and 2020.
Unaware of being sedated, the mother of three endured repeated sexual abuse at their residence in Mazan, a commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.
Following a 50-year marriage, Dominique Pélicot, the former husband, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He orchestrated a disturbing campaign of abuse against his wife, operating an online chatroom named ‘Without her knowledge’ to solicit men to commit heinous sexual acts on his unsuspecting spouse.
Numerous assailants revisited to exploit her vulnerable state multiple times without verifying her consent. Despite some of the convicted men being portrayed as respectable fathers and husbands, psychological evaluations revealed no significant mental disorders or abnormalities. While a few had prior convictions related to sexual abuse, child pornography, and domestic violence, the majority were ordinary individuals who committed vile acts of sexual violence against an unwilling woman.
A total of 50 accomplices were convicted on charges including aggravated rape and sexual assault, receiving prison sentences ranging from 13 to five years (with two years suspended). The offenders came from various backgrounds, such as civil servants, emergency responders, military personnel, prison guards, healthcare workers, transportation professionals, media personalities, and public officials.
The trial also involved the youngest participant, Joan Kawai, a 22-year-old soldier who assaulted Gisèle on two separate occasions in 2019 and 2020. Despite his claim of not intending to commit rape, Joan was found guilty of aggravated rape and sentenced to 10 years.
Furthermore, Charly Arbo, a 30-year-old vineyard worker, raped Gisèle six times over four years, beginning when he was 22. Video evidence captured Arbo discussing plans with Pélicot to drug and assault his own mother similarly. Although both individuals acknowledged the conversation, they denied carrying out the act on Arbo’s mother. Consequently, Arbo was convicted of aggravated rape and received a 13-year prison term.
In another instance, Adrien Longeron, a former construction site manager with a history of raping three former partners, was sentenced to six years for aggravated rape and child exploitation. Longeron, then 23, claimed he believed he was participating in a game and harbored a deep-seated animosity towards women.
Moreover, Hugues Malago, a 39-year-old tiler, denied being aware of Gisèle’s drugged state when he assaulted her a few days before his ex-girlfriend’s birthday in October 2019. Despite his denial of rape, Malago was found guilty of attempted rape and received a five-year prison sentence.
The case also involved Cyrille Delville, a butcher by profession, who admitted to being sexually frustrated and sought solace through online interactions. Delville, aged 54, confessed to rape, attributing his actions to naivety and foolishness. He received an eight-year sentence for aggravated rape.
Christian Lescole, a 56-year-old volunteer firefighter, disputed the rape accusation, claiming he thought he had been drugged during the incident in January 2019. Despite his denial, Lescole was convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to nine years. He rationalized his actions by stating, “My body raped her, but my brain didn’t.”
Another participant, Cyril Beabuis, a 47-year-old lorry driver, denied the rape allegation despite video evidence linking him to the assault in November 2018