In a decisive victory for justice, France's highest court has rejected the final appeal of Husamettin Dogan, upholding his 12-year prison sentence for the violent rape of 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot. The ruling brings closure to a harrowing seven-year legal battle that captured national attention.
Brutal Attack That Shook France
The case dates back to September 2018, when Dogan, then 37, broke into Pelicot's home in Saint-Julien-en-Jarret, a quiet village in southeastern France. The court heard how the Turkish national subjected the elderly grandmother to a savage sexual assault that left her with severe physical and psychological trauma.
During the original trial, prosecutors described how Pelicot was attacked in her own bed, with the assault continuing even as she pleaded for mercy and referenced her age and grandchildren.
Seven-Year Legal Battle Concludes
Dogan's legal team had mounted multiple challenges against the conviction, culminating in this final appeal to the Court of Cassation. The defence argued procedural errors and contested the evidence, but the court found no grounds to overturn the original verdict.
"This ruling confirms that French justice stands firm against sexual violence," stated a court official familiar with the case. "The victim's courage in pursuing this matter through years of legal proceedings has been remarkable."
Impact on Sexual Violence Legislation
The Pelicot case has become a landmark in France's approach to elderly victim sexual assaults, prompting discussions about sentencing guidelines and support systems for older victims of violent crime.
Advocacy groups have welcomed the final ruling, noting that it sends a clear message about the seriousness with which courts treat crimes against vulnerable elderly citizens.
With all appeal avenues now exhausted, Dogan will serve his full 12-year sentence, bringing a painful chapter to close for Pelicot and her family while reinforcing the French justice system's stance on sexual violence.
