Skip to content
Crime-and-justice — Politics — War-and-conflicts — general-news — Justice

One solitary convict from the group of 51 ultimately files an appeal

In the high-profile Mazanrape case, which drew widespread global attention, only a single offender from the initial group of 51 convicted men will face a retrial, as the remaining 16 who challenged their verdict have progressively withdrawn, according to recent information from a judicial source.

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
In the French rape trial of Mazan, one individual will face a retrial on appeal, while the 16...
In the French rape trial of Mazan, one individual will face a retrial on appeal, while the 16 others who initially challenged their sentences have successively withdrawn their appeals, according to a judicial source, revealed on Tuesday.

One solitary convict from the group of 51 ultimately files an appeal

Reborn in Nîmes: A Lone Fighter in France's Notorious Mazan Rape Case

The captivating Mazan rape trial, that sparked international attention, will witness a rare, one-man show this fall, as only one of the 51 convicted men is set to contest his conviction on appeal. The remaining 16, who initially expressed a desire to appeal, have mysteriously retracted their claims, according to a confidential source.

In a definite blow to justice, Husamettin D., a 44-year-old construction worker, will stand alone before the courts in Nîmes, Gard, challenging merely the severity of his nine-year prison sentence, not his culpability. Divulged anonymously to AFP, the source shed light on this peculiar twist.

The infamous mastermind, Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty of the horrific decade-long rapes on his ex-wife Gisele Pelicot, received the harshest penalty of 20 years with a two-thirds security measure (roughly 14 years), had already announced that he would not challenge the verdict.

Initial reports stated that 17 out of the 50 co-defendants, whom Dominique Pelicot had lured online to his home in Mazan, between 2011 and 2020, were also set to evade re-trial. But since the beginning of 2023, the tide has turned, and 16 of these defendants have withdrawn their appeals in waves.

Likely stemming from apprehension or perhaps another intricate design, the unpredictable ebb and flow of these withdrawals have left the forthcoming appeal trial, initially scheduled from October 6 to November 21, hanging in the balance. If it materializes, it will undoubtedly be significantly shorter, as Husamettin D. reserves the right to withdraw his appeal until the trial commences.

Husamettin D., during his only visit to Mazan, dismissed the accusations against him, claiming he was ensnared in a "'libertine couple's" role-play, where the woman "appeared to be feigning sleep." However, the courts were not deceived by his flawed defense, and, consequently, he was slapped with a hefty nine-year sentence.

Behind bars, Dominique Pelicot still finds himself entangled in the justice system. Under investigation by the "cold cases" pole in Nanterre, near Paris, he faces an attempted rape charge from 1999 in Seine-et-Marne and a rape-and-murder case dating back to 1991 in Paris, involving the brutal killing of a 23-year-old real estate agent.

The sensational first instance trial, which unfolded from September 2 to December 19, 2024, sent shockwaves through France and beyond, symbolizing the larger discourse on sexual and gender-based violence, and an examination of the complex dynamics between men and women. Pelicot will appear only as a witness should the appeal trial proceed, his own legal drama yet to unfold.

  1. The upcoming appeal trial, initially scheduled for October 6 to November 21, hangs in the balance due to the mysteriously retracted appeals of 16 defendants in the Mazan rape case, leaving only Husamettin D., who is challenging the severity of his sentence, to contest justice.
  2. The withdrawn appeals and unpredictable changes have shed light on the complex web of politics, crime, and general news involving the Mazan rape case, drawing attention to the war-and-conflicts within the justice system and the ongoing legal drama surrounding both Husamettin D. and the infamous mastermind, Dominique Pelicot.

Read also:

Related

Latest