Man convicted in Gisèle Pelicot case says he ‘never intended’ to rape her

Appeal trial begins for Husamettin Dogan, the only man out of 51 in French case to challenge conviction

An unemployed builder seeking to overturn his conviction for raping Gisele Pelicot when she had been drugged unconscious by her husband has told a court he never intended" to rape her.

On the opening day of his appeal trial in the southern French city of Nimes, Husamettin Dogan, 44, a married father, was asked by the lead judge if he denied the charge of rape.