🔗 Share this article French Higher Court Increases Prison Term for Gisele Pelicot Assailant A defendant has been found guilty on retrial of sexually assaulting Gisele Pelicot following she was sedated by her spouse – and has had his jail term extended to ten years. Higher Court Case The defendant, forty-four, an out-of-work construction worker, who had appealed his first conviction last year, underwent a new trial this week at the appeals court in Nîmes. A jury of five men and four women, sitting with three judges, ruled against Dogan on Thursday of sexually assaulting Pelicot in her residence in southern France in the early hours of June 29, 2019. The court heard that Dogan, a married father, reached out to Gisèle Pelicot’s then husband, the husband, in an internet forum called “unbeknownst to her”, where Pelicot was recruiting men to come to his home to rape his wife after he had rendered her unconscious into a deep sleep. We trust the jury will declare that in this society, human rights are also women’s rights – that agreement is individual, not transferred,” stated Gisèle Pelicot’s attorney, Antoine Camus. “Consent is obtained directly and not via a representative from a spouse.” Context Dominique Pelicot, one of the worst sex offenders in France's contemporary records, was sentenced to two decades in prison last year for sedating his spouse and soliciting dozens of men to rape her in her home in the Provence village of the village of Mazan over a period of many years of their union. Numerous other individuals were found guilty in a high-profile trial last year, and Dogan was the sole individual to challenge his conviction. He was initially handed a term to 9 years in prison, a punishment raised on Thursday to 10 years. The state's attorney, Dominique Sie, had stated he should serve twelve years, because he “completely denies to take any accountability”. Courtroom Details The defendant had initially sent Dominique Pelicot graphic images and then traveled an hour from his residence in the region to rape Gisèle Pelicot, after telling his wife he was stepping out, the court heard. Pelicot, who was transported from solitary confinement in prison to briefly testify at the hearing, informed the court that Dogan had been aware his wife had been “drugged” and he told to men by phone: “I seek someone to assault my wife after I’ve rendered her unconscious without her knowledge.” The proceedings became a focus point for a larger conversation on sexual violence norms in society as Dogan continued to say he was innocent and had not perpetrated assault, stating that because Gisèle Pelicot’s husband had invited him into the bedroom, his actions had been permissible. The jury in the Nîmes appeals court was presented with recorded footage of the victim's limp body, sedated and breathing heavily in a unconscious condition, while a smiling the perpetrator engaged in violation on several occasions over a period of what authorities reported was several hours. The judge said she had been at peril of fatal outcome by asphyxiation. The state prosecution said there was no question that she had been incapacitated and had not given permission. Accused's Testimony The defendant told the court the recordings were simply “sexual encounters” and denied it was rape. He said what he did was “a sexual act”, not rape. He stated the court: “I am innocent of assault.” He said the victim's husband had brought him to the residence, and therefore it was OK. He said he was influenced by the husband. “I wanted to stop,” the accused informed the court. “I continued because he persuaded me.” Questioned if he wanted to make a final statement to the court, Dogan said: “I never wanted to injure that woman.” Pelicot's Words The victim, who was supported upon leaving court each day by supporters present to support her, addressed the defendant in court: “You do not grasp. When will you acknowledge you raped me? It is illegal to assault an unaware woman. When did I ever give you consent? Never.” Gisèle Pelicot, seventy-two, became an global icon after she waived her right to confidentiality in the trial last year when she said: “Shame must change sides.” State's Argument Sie, turning to Gisèle Pelicot in court, said Dogan’s failure to take responsibility showed that: “The shame remains. Society is maybe in the process of that, perhaps driven by the public consciousness brought by the exposure of your ordeal.” Sie said the defendant's claims of non-guilt showed how societal tolerance was still prevalent in society as part of “outdated” forms of “patriarchal control”. He said: “We need to change rape culture to a culture of consent.” The prosecutor addressed Dogan: “While you refuse to admit it, it’s not just a person, it’s an whole disturbing societal structure that you are supporting.” Personal History Dogan was originated from the country of Turkey and at the age of five moved to the nation of France, where his father worked as a concierge. The court heard that his parent was abusive and that the defendant began consuming marijuana at the age of 10. When he was 17 he was stopped by police for selling narcotics and his parent kicked him out of home. He served time in prison for narcotics offenses in his young adulthood and had worked as a laborer but had experienced periods of homelessness. He was wed and had a child with special needs, who he was the principal carer for, as his wife worked in a institution's dining hall. The evidence showed his wife did not know he had regular intimate relations outside their union. His legal team said this was his way of coping with his challenging existence. The defendant had informed a court psychologist that annually he sought transactional encounters on his special day. His attorneys told the court he had arthritis triggered by the pressure of the first trial.