Overview

• Husamettin Dogan, 44, began his appeal Monday in Nîmes on aggravated rape charges tied to drugging that impair judgment, with the retrial expected to last up to four days and a verdict anticipated Thursday.
• Dogan, sentenced to nine years in December, remains free pending the decision due to health concerns and claims he was deceived by Dominique Pelicot into believing a consensual scenario.
• Gisèle Pelicot, 72, attended the hearing to public support after waiving anonymity during the original trial and has become a prominent voice on sexual violence.
• Dominique Pelicot did not appeal his 20-year sentence and is expected to testify at the appeal after being implicated by Dogan.
• The original Nîmes trial convicted 51 men for assaults between 2011 and 2020, based in part on videos recorded by Dominique Pelicot, and related civil damages proceedings are scheduled in Avignon in November.