Court acquits Syrian man who raped 12-year-old child in Austria

The court in Vienna acquitted a 17-year-old teenager who was one of the suspects in the case of the rape of the 12-year-old girl. It is known that he raped the minor several times with 18 accomplices.

It is reported by BILD.

The victim’s mother was offered humiliating compensation

It is noted that the incident occurred in early 2023. The group of several teenagers raped the 12-year-old girl in the garage near Vienna’s main railway station. The court case caused a wide public outcry.

In court, the prosecutor argued that the victim had repeatedly expressed her unwillingness to have sexual relations. However, the defendant denied using force, stating that he thought the girl was already 14 years old. The court acquitted the defendant, arguing that there was insufficient evidence of coercion. The judge emphasized that the case concerned "two young people with no experience in such matters".

The girl’s mother, who watched the trial, was shocked by the verdict and burst into tears in the courtroom. She was outraged by the offer of compensation of €100 from the defendant, which is significantly lower than the €3,000 demanded. The family’s lawyer called it a "mockery" and emphasized the need for a fair resolution of the case.

How the rest of the rapists will be judged

The defendant, who came to Austria with his family in 2015, is only one of the suspects who have already been tried in connection with the crime. The court case against the other defendants is ongoing.

As a reminder, recently the man was detained in Odesa who met the minor through social media and raped her.

Also in December, the verdict in a high-profile case against the man who organized the rape of his wife to order while she was unconscious was delivered in France.