Gisele Pelicot, 72, who became an icon for women in a mass rape trial last year that resonated around the world, is to reluctantly break months of silence to face in court the one man in the case who still denies he raped her.

Gisele Pelicot's former husband admitted to drugging her with sedatives and inviting dozens of strangers to rape and abuse her over nearly a decade, in a case that has sparked horror, protests and a debate about male violence in French society.

Her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, who was handed the maximum term of 20 years in jail by a French court, and 49 other defendants are not appealing their sentences.

But one man, Husamettin Dogan, has maintained his appeal, meaning the new trial has to take place.

"She would have much preferred to stay where she is and focus on her new life and her future," one of her lawyers, Antoine Camus, told AFP.

"Gisele Pelicot is the epitome of resilience. So she needs to see this through to the end," he added.

Instead........

© International Business Times