Man Who Appealed ‘Sleeping Beauty‘ Rape Conviction Receives Extended Prison Sentence
PARIS – A man who appealed his conviction in the high-profile ”Sleeping Beauty” case,where he was found guilty of raping a woman while she was drugged by her husband,has been handed a longer jail term. The Paris Court of Appeal increased the sentence for Serkan dogan to 15 years in prison, up from the 12 years initially imposed.
The case centers around Gisèle Pelicot, who unknowingly became the victim of multiple sexual assaults orchestrated by her husband, Dominique Pelicot. Pelicot recruited men through online chatrooms, telling them his wife would be drugged and seeking “someone to abuse my sleeping wife without her knowledge,” according to court testimony. Dogan was one of the men recruited.
During the retrial, Gisèle Pelicot testified this week, recounting the unexplained neurological symptoms and memory loss she experienced, later revealed to be side effects of the drugs administered by her husband.”The first time I saw [DoganS] face was when I saw the videos of him raping me,” she stated. “Thay are forever etched in my memory.” She directly addressed Dogan, stating, “You don’t understand that this was rape.When will you admit that it’s a crime? I am ashamed for you.”
Dogan had previously maintained he did not believe his actions constituted rape. Dominique Pelicot, present in court as a witness, denied misleading Dogan, but Dogan testified that Pelicot was a “manipulator” who initially eased his suspicions.
The original trial garnered international attention after Gisèle Pelicot made the unprecedented decision to open proceedings to the public and media. Following the initial verdicts, she retreated from public life.
The case has also fractured the pelicot family. Gisèle’s daughter, Caroline darian, alleges she too was drugged and abused by her father, and has expressed feeling unsupported by her mother.The two are reportedly estranged and Darian was not present for this week’s proceedings. Gisèle Pelicot expressed hope for reconciliation, saying, “I hope [Caroline] finds the answers she is looking for. I hope one day we can find each other again.”
Gisèle Pelicot also requested to no longer be labeled an “icon,” stating, “I am an ordinary woman who dared to open up her trial.” She concluded her statement by offering support to other rape victims,urging them to “never be ashamed of what was inflicted upon us,because it is not their fault.”
