🔗 Share this article France's Appeal Tribunal Increases Prison Term for Gisèle Pelicot Assailant A man was convicted on higher court review of sexually assaulting Gisèle Pelicot following she was rendered comatose by her then-husband – and was given his incarceration period extended to ten years. Higher Court Case Dogan, forty-four, an out-of-work construction worker, who had appealed his first conviction last year, experienced a appeal hearing this week at the appeals court in Nîmes. A jury of nine jurors, sitting with three judges, convicted Dogan on Thursday of raping Pelicot in her home in Provence in the morning of 29 June 2019. The testimony revealed that the accused, a married father, reached out to the victim's then husband, Dominique Pelicot, in an online chatroom titled “without her consent”, where the husband was seeking men to enter his residence to assault his wife once he had rendered her unconscious into a comatose state. We expect the court will say loud and clear that in this nation, human rights are also rights of women – that permission is individual, not transferred,” stated Gisèle Pelicot’s lawyer, her legal representative. “Permission is received personally and not by proxy from a husband.” Case History The husband, a notorious sexual predators in recent French history, was sentenced to twenty years in prison last year for incapacitating his then wife and bringing in numerous individuals to sexually assault her in her home in the community of the village of Mazan over a period of many years of their union. Fifty other men were found convicted in a notable trial last year, and Dogan was the single defendant to contest his verdict. He was initially sentenced to nine years in prison, a punishment increased on Thursday to a decade. The lead state prosecutor, Dominique Sie, had argued he should serve twelve years, because he “stubbornly rejects to take any responsibility”. Testimony and Proof Dogan had initially sent Dominique Pelicot graphic images and then traveled an hour from his residence in the region to assault Gisèle Pelicot, after telling his wife he was leaving, the evidence indicated. Pelicot, who was brought from solitary confinement in prison to temporarily provide testimony at the hearing, stated to the court that the accused had known his wife had been “drugged” and he communicated to men by phone: “I’m looking for someone to assault my wife after I’ve put her to sleep without her consent.” The proceedings became a focus point for a broader debate on sexual violence norms in society as the defendant continued to claim he was not guilty and had not engaged in violation, stating that because Gisèle Pelicot’s husband had invited him into the room, his conduct had been acceptable. The jury in the higher court was displayed visual proof of the victim's limp body, sedated and breathing heavily in a deep sleep, while a grinning Dogan performed assault multiple times over a period of what police said was 3.5 hours. The presiding judge said she had been at danger of death by choking. The prosecution said there was no question that she had been incapacitated and had not given permission. Defendant's Statements The defendant told the court the videos were simply “sexual encounters” and denied it was violation. He said what he did was “an intimate behavior”, not assault. He told the court: “I am innocent of assault.” He said Gisèle Pelicot’s husband had invited him to the house, and therefore it was OK. He said he was influenced by Dominique Pelicot. “I tried to halt,” the accused stated to the court. “I carried on because he persuaded me.” Inquired if he wanted to make a final statement to the court, the defendant said: “I never wanted to hurt that individual.” Pelicot's Words The victim, who was cheered upon leaving court each day by onlookers gathered to back her, told the defendant in court: “You do not grasp. When will you admit you assaulted me? It is illegal to rape an unconscious woman. How could I have give you agreement? Never.” The victim, seventy-two, became an international feminist hero after she relinquished her right to privacy in the trial last year when she said: “Shame must change sides.” Prosecutor's Remarks Sie, turning to Gisèle Pelicot in court, said the defendant's failure to take blame showed that: “Guilt has not shifted. Society is maybe in the process of that, perhaps driven by the public consciousness resulting from the exposure of your case.” The prosecutor said Dogan’s claims of innocence showed how rape culture was still common in society as part of “archaic” forms of “male domination”. He said: “It is imperative to change rape culture to a ethos of permission.” The prosecutor said to Dogan: “As long as you refuse to admit it, it’s not just a person, it’s an entire disturbing social system that you are supporting.” Personal History Dogan was originated from the country of Turkey and at the age of 5 came to the nation of France, where his father worked as a caretaker. The testimony revealed that his father was violent and that Dogan began smoking cannabis aged 10. When he was 17 he was apprehended by authorities for selling narcotics and his father forced him to leave the family house. He served time in prison for drug dealing in his young adulthood and had worked as a builder but had experienced periods of homelessness. He was wed and had a son with a genetic condition, who he was the primary guardian for, as his wife worked in a educational cafeteria. The testimony revealed his wife did not know he had frequent sexual encounters beyond their marriage. His legal team said this was his method of dealing with his difficult circumstances. The defendant had stated to a court psychologist that once a year he engaged in transactional encounters on his special day. His lawyers informed the court he had arthritis triggered by the anxiety of the original case.