Following the French mass rape case that took the world by storm, Gisèle Pelicot became a feminist hero for standing up against her perpetrators and demanding they be shamed.

The initial trial wrapped up in December, when a French court found 51 men – including Ms Pelicot’s husband, Dominique Pelicot – guilty of sexual offences against her.

Dominique Pelicot was accused of facilitating the abuse and sexual assault of his wife for over 10 years, drugging her at night and inviting local men to take advantage of her in her own home

17 of the accused have filed an appeal against the judgement, meaning that there will be another trial, this time to go before a jury.

The co-accused at the courtroom of the Gisèle Pelicot case. Photo by Laurent Coust/ABACAPRESS.COM Credit: Abaca Press/Alamy Live News. 20th Sep, 2024.

Criminal defence lawyer for Ms Pelicot Stéphane Babonneau told The Pat Kenny Show that his client was taking time to rest before the appeals trial begins.

“She’s mostly relieved that this very important first part of the case is now over,” he said.

“There is now an appeal and we know that there are 17 accused that filed an appeal against the judgement – which is more or less one third of the accused, meaning that there will be another trial.

“She was prepared for that, but now it came as a reality to her.

“So, she’s resting, she’s relieved, and she’s starting to prepare herself for the second part of the trial."

Appeals trial

According to Mr Babonneau, it is unusual to see these types of appeals trials in france.

“The first-degree case was tried by a panel of five professional judges, and in France, this type of case, when it goes to appeal, it tried by jurors,” he said.

“So, it means that in the appeal, instead of five professional judges, there will be a panel of nine jurors plus three professional judges - so it will be a very different hearing due to this."

Some have said the sentences handed out to Ms Pelicot’s perpetrators were too lenient, but according to Mr Babonnea, his client was satisfied with the results.

Rebuilding her life

Mr Babonneau said Ms Pelicot had taken time out to rebuild her life before legal proceedings began in 2024.

“There was some good in the fact that the investigation was lengthy... there was more or less four years in between,” he said.

“At first, Ms Pelicot felt that she needed to rebuild her life, to rebuild herself because, as she said, she was completely destroyed.

“She said at the court, ‘Well, on the outside I seem strong, but on the inside, I’m completely destroyed – it's a ruin’.

“So, first she focused on finding again a life for herself – because she’s been living with this man for over 50 years.

“I mean, in the morning they were having their breakfast together, and in the evening she had discovered that he organised her rape for 10 years.”

Mr Babonneau said this case proved that victims words should be taken seriously, no matter how good the reputation of the accused.

Featured image: Gisele Pelicot leaves the court house, in Avignon, southern France. Photo: AP Photo/Lewis Joly. Oct. 16, 2024