Six youths convicted in Vienna: teacher raped and extorted over months
A Vienna court has convicted six teenagers of rape, extortion and arson. One of the main defendants received a 3.5-year prison sentence.
Vienna court convicts six teenagers following months of abuse of a teacher
The Vienna Regional Court has convicted six juveniles aged 14 to 17 of a series of serious offences, including rape, sexual coercion, extortion, theft and arson. According to sueddeutsche.de, citing the German Press Agency, the victim was a teacher who was threatened, exploited and abused by the group over several months.
From consensual relationship to organised violence
The case began when the then nearly 30-year-old teacher entered into a relationship with a former student. Through him, she met his friends, who described themselves as members of a gang according to the woman's statements. The court established that individual members of the group raped the woman, sexually coerced her and abused her whilst she was defenceless under the influence of drugs.
The teenagers also put pressure on the teacher using recordings on which she was seen engaging in sexual acts and consuming drugs. Using this material, they extorted money from her for narcotics, tobacco, food, drinks and taxi rides, as the presiding judge explained.
Apartment set on fire as "final coup"
When the woman was on holiday in January of the previous year, several of the teenagers set fire to her apartment and stole valuables. According to the prosecutor, one defendant referred to this in connection with a "final coup" because he "couldn't be bothered" with the woman anymore.
The prosecutor described the offences in her closing arguments as "truly the most serious criminality" and said the indictment read "like a screenplay". Whilst the teacher had acknowledged her own poor decisions, "which do not always accord with societal norms" – it was the juveniles who were on trial.
Sentences ranging from four months to 3.5 years
The presiding judge imposed prison sentences of 3.5 years and 3 years on the two main defendants. The remaining four convicted individuals received prison sentences ranging from four to 18 months, some conditionally suspended. The verdict is not yet final.
In court, the convicted youths showed neither remorse nor compassion. They admitted to property offences and arson but denied extortion and sexual abuse. According to their account, they had consumed alcohol and drugs together with the woman and also had consensual sex. However, the jury court followed the "absolutely credible statements" of the teacher, as the judge explained.
As the only one of the seven defendants, the teenager who had the original relationship with the teacher showed empathy: "I'm sorry for what happened," he said. The prosecution had accused him of theft in the apartment but was unable to prove this in court. He was acquitted.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)