At least 15 men who were found guilty of raping or sexually abusing Gisèle Pelicot have launched appeals against their convictions and will be given a second trial.
Some 51 men, including her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, were convicted and handed jail sentences of between three and 20 years after a well publicised trial lasting for three and a half months.
Pelicot, who was given a prison sentence of 20 years, spent almost 10 years tracking down strangers he invited inside the family home to rape his wife while she was heavily drugged with sleeping pills.
The 72-year-old was found guilty of rape, while his 50 co-defendants were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
Days after the sentencing, it was reported that two defendants had lodged appeals – now it has emerged that at least 15 have initiated appeals, according to a report by the Guardian.
The men have until midnight on Monday to launch an appeal against their convictions.
Charly Arbo, a 30-year-old vineyard worker, is one of the men reported to be launching an appeal.
Arbo went to Pelicot’s home on six occasions and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also accused of raping her on the night of her 66th birthday. Video evidence showed him talking about drugging and raping his own mother with Dominique Pelicot, The Guardian reports.
Redouan El Farihi, 55, an ex-hospital anaesthesia nurse, has also appealed against his conviction after being sentenced to eight years, the media outlet reports. He is said to have denied rape and claimed Pelicot had “tricked” him and said he did not realise Gisèle had been drugged even though she was unconscious and unmoving in footage.
Gisèle, who has been applauded around the world for her bravery, chose to relinquish her anonymity and shine a light on the trial in a bid to make “shame swap sides” from the victim to the rapist.
Last week, after it emerged some defendants had appealed, Stéphane Babonneau, one of Gisèle’s lawyers, told France Inter radio: “In any case, she has no fear of it [another trial, that is what she told us.”
Pelicot, her husband of 50 years, captured footage of the rapes as well as keeping thorough records, which were used as evidence in the trial. He documented more than 20,000 videos of the crimes perpetrated at their home.
