In a recent appeal, a French court has extended the prison sentence of Husamettin Dogan, 44, by one year. Dogan was convicted of aggravated rape in December and had appealed his original nine-year sentence. The court in Nîmes upheld the conviction, increasing his sentence to ten years. Dogan’s defence centered on the argument that he was unaware of Ms. Pelicot’s victimisation, a defense that the court did not accept.
Dogan was one of 51 men convicted in relation to the case of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old grandmother who was drugged and raped by dozens of men recruited by her husband, Dominique Pelicot, over a decade. Video evidence presented in court showed Dogan penetrating a motionless Ms. Pelicot. Prosecutors had sought a 12-year sentence for Dogan, who claimed to be a victim himself, manipulated by Dominique Pelicot. While Dogan had spent time in pre-trial detention, he has not served time in jail since his initial conviction.
The investigation gained traction due to videos filmed by Dominique Pelicot himself, which documented the assaults. While 17 of the convicted men initially appealed their sentences, they later withdrew them. Dogan, a Turkish-born father of one, was the sole individual to pursue his appeal through the court.
Dogan’s defense also argued that because he did not realize Ms. Pelicot was drugged against her will, he could not be guilty of rape. This retrial, heard by a jury of nine members of the public and three professional judges, revisited the evidence, including videos showing Ms. Pelicot’s unconscious state during the assaults. Dogan maintained his innocence, stating, “I performed a sexual act, I never raped anyone.” He further asserted that he believed he was not responsible as Dominique Pelicot was a manipulator who assured him the situation was acceptable.
Gisèle Pelicot herself testified, emphasizing, “I am the only victim,” and refuting any notion of consent. Dominique Pelicot, present as a witness, claimed he had informed all recruited men that his wife would be drugged and had explicitly told Dogan he was seeking someone to abuse his sleeping wife without her knowledge.