Gisèle Pelicot “She is not afraid” of having to go through a second appeal trial for the violations she suffered under chemical submission and she will face it as long as her health allows it to continue demonstrating to all the victims that, if she could, the others can too. , according to what Stéphane Babonneau, one of his lawyers, said this Friday.
“In any case, he is not afraid. That is to say, if it happens, she has already told us that she will face it, if she is healthy, obviously, because she is a woman who is already 72 years old,” said Babonneau in an interview with public broadcaster France Inter.
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The lawyer expressed himself like this after two of the 51 accused in the trial in France for the dozens of violations that their client suffered under chemical submission have already exercised their right to request an appeal trial after the sentences issued this Thursday in the criminal court of Avignon (southeast).
The then husband of Gisèle Pelicot, Dominicreceived the harshest sentence – the maximum of 20 years in prison provided by law for these crimes, although he could access parole once two-thirds had been served – as a rapist and as the mastermind of the plot so that, between 2011 and 2020, Dozens of unknown men raped her while she was unconscious from the drugs he gave her.
His 50 accomplices were also found guilty of different crimesbut the sentences imposed were lower than those requested by the Prosecutor’s Office, which caused some indignation in France.
BabonneauDespite everything, he stated that he believes his client “felt relief when the verdict was announced, because all the accused were convicted,” despite certain reclassifications of the charges.
“As she said, we must respect this decision, and she greatly respected the work of the court, which she understands is complex. “She had come so that the courts would recognize what they had done to her, and she feels that is the case,” he asserted.
The lawyer said that Gisèle Pelicot this “happy” for returning home after the end of the trial, despite the threat of having to go through another trial, something that would occur in the second instance in the Nîmes Court of Appeal and with a popular jury.
“Above all, what he doesn’t want is for the victims to say to themselves ‘that woman has extraordinary strength, I couldn’t do it’. Gisèle Pelicot She said it during her second statement, she wants all women to say to themselves ‘if Mrs. Pelicot He did it, I can do it’”shared the lawyer, before emphasizing that, despite global support, she does not want to be seen as “an icon” but rather as someone “very normal.”
“He has always said that in his misfortune He was lucky that there was concrete evidence of what he had experienced, because in other cases it is much more complex. Throughout the trial, he never failed to tell us that his thoughts were with all women, and possibly with menwho currently face justice alone”he highlighted.
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The children, between satisfied and disappointed
It is still unknown whether among those who will appeal the verdict will be himself. Dominique Pelicotsince, as explained today on the same station by his lawyer, Béatrice Zavarroit will depend on what they both decide when they meet him in prison soon.
Yesterday already Zavarro He had expressed some discontent, understanding that the court had differentiated his client too much from the rest of the defendants, but he clarified that he would have to analyze with him the “challenges” of attempting an appeal.
One of his three children also spoke out this Friday, David Pelicotwho was satisfied with the sentence issued against his father for the “atrocities” committed against his mother, but clarified that they are somewhat “disappointed” with the sentences of the rest of the accused, which were lower than what was requested by the Prosecutor’s Office.
““We have won a battle, but not the war.”he told the channel BFMTVand stressed that we must continue raising awareness against chemical submission and sexual crimes in general.
On the other hand, he regretted that the daughter, daughters-in-law and grandchildren of Gisèle Pelicotwith all the attention that has been placed on it, have remained to a certain extent in the background throughout the process.
““There are many questions for which we have not had answers.”he stressed David Pelicotand recalled that there is also a complaint from his own son for alleged touching by his grandfather, although he refused to make statements while the investigation is being carried out.
Some intimate images of the daughter and daughters-in-law were also found in the archives of Dominique Pelicot (dozens of photos and videos that were the main evidence of this trial), but during the hearings he denied having abused them as he had done with his ex-wife.
