While the Vaucluse criminal court convicted 51 men for the rape of Gisèle Pelicot, around fifteen of them decided to appeal. The rest of the defendants have until Monday, December 30 to challenge the court's decision.
At least fifteen of the 51 convicted in the Mazan rape case appealed the decision of the Avignon court. The latter will therefore soon find themselves facing justice again. As a reminder, sentences ranging from three years in prison, two of which were suspended, to 20 years of criminal imprisonment were handed down.
While the verdict was announced on Thursday, December 19, the convicted men have until Monday, December 30 at midnight to contest the court's decision, especially since the defense of several accused had pleaded acquittal on the grounds of lack of intent to commit rape during the trial.
“I pleaded for acquittal because he is a boy who, when he realized the situation (…), immediately stopped. He came out and left,” declared the lawyer of one of the accused, sentenced to eight years in prison, speaking to RTL.
Gisèle Pelicot is “serene”
Contacted by the radio station, Gisèle Pelicot's lawyer, Maître Stéphane Babonneau, explained that his client “will not criticize the fact of making an appeal.” This procedure being a right, underlined the lawyer, adding that his client, “until now, has always respected everyone’s prerogatives”.
“She would have preferred that this matter could be closed with this trial. Now, regarding the reaction of my client, it is not at all a surprise since there was an immense majority of accused who pleaded for acquittal,” added Maître Stéphane Babonneau assuring that Gisèle Pelicot is “serene faced with this situation.
In the wake of this affair, the new Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin announced this week that he wanted to increase the period of police custody to 72 hours “in cases of aggravated sexual violence and feminicide”. “It allows us to protect the woman who has been threatened, violated, attacked. It allows technical and scientific police findings to be made and it allows the person to be questioned at greater length,” detailed the former Minister of the Interior.
