Standing and sure of herself, Gisèle pelicot He has held his gaze for several seconds at Husamett D., 44 years old, the only one of those convicted of raping her who has appealed the sentenceduring the trial that is being held this Wednesday in France.
in a speech clear and direct, and sometimes emotional, he did not hesitate to say bluntly: “When will you admit it? Own up to your actions!” Husamettin D. has denied the facts and says he feels like a victim.
Looking into his face, Pelicot has addressed him for the first time before the Court of Appeal of Nimes, in the south of France, on the third day of a trial that has only one accused, the only one of the 51 men who were already convicted in December for sexual assault and rape under chemical submission who filed an appeal.
“He raped me, it’s not a sex scene. These scenes are horrible, “I will always live with these images in my head.”he stated before the court.
Gisèle Pelicot was surprised by the fact that the man, almost a year after the first sentence to nine years in prison for rape, continue denying the crime. Now he faces the penalty of 20 years in prison, the maximum punishment in France.
“The only victim in this room is me, you are not. Assume your actions once and for all, “I feel ashamed for you.”she told him, looking him directly in the face.
Some words that were a reaction to the previous statement of Husamettin D., who claimed to be also a victim of Dominique Pelicot, the ex-husband and mastermind of the plan, already firmly sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A version that contrasts with the 14 videos that the ex-husband recorded with his cell phone, lasting almost half an hour, in which both men are seen penetrate the victim on multiple occasions for a long time, moving it as if it were an object, completely inert on the night of June 28 to 29, 2019.
“I am exhausted by a process that has lasted for five years. I am still affected, because this is heartbreaking for me. The damage has been done, but I want to say that I have never regretted making this decision (to report),” she said.
“I tell victims that they should never be ashamed to report what they have been forced to suffer,” he added.