Scandalous dismissal: acquittals for all defendants in Vienna!

Scandalous dismissal: acquittals for all defendants in Vienna!

A sensational trial at the Vienna Regional Court surrounding the alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl ended on September 26, 2025 with a surprising acquittal for all ten defendants aged 16 to 21. The young men, including Syrians, North Macedonians, Turks and Bulgarians, faced allegations of having carried out sexual acts against the girl's will over several months. One thing is crystal clear: The incidents are said to have occurred between March and June 2023 in various locations in Vienna-Favoriten, including hotel rooms, stairwells and apartments of the defendants Welt.de reports.

In court, the defendants were confronted with allegations of having committed sexual assault and violating the girl's sexual self-determination. However, the judge, Daniel Schmitzberger, found there was no evidence of violence or intimidation. The girl's contradictory statements and confirmation from a friend that there was no violence or coercion ensured a critical attitude during the proceedings. The public prosecutor's office ultimately decided not to pursue charges of serious sexual abuse of minors because the exact circumstances surrounding the girl's age were considered insufficient to be proven.

Litigation and public perception

Most of the negotiations took place behind closed doors to protect the victim. The stressful atmosphere was compounded by the incriminating statements and the court's clear responsibility to uphold the presumption of innocence. Providing evidence in criminal proceedings relating to sexual offenses is often challenging. There is often a lack of objective evidence, which makes it particularly difficult for affected young people to testify, according to Besstreib.de.

One of the girl's ex-boyfriends said he initially assumed she was the same age until he learned from her ID and other boys in the park that she was only 12. This raised massive doubts in him and led to a confrontation in which the girl assured him that she did not want the sexual contact and was afraid. This description was part of the incriminating evidence, which ultimately did not lead to the conviction of the defendant.

Reactions after the verdict

The acquittal caused outrage, particularly from the victim's lawyer, who described the outcome of the trial as humiliating. He criticized the fact that, despite the serious allegations against the defendants, sufficient evidence could not be presented that would have enabled a conviction. This raises questions about the legal situation, the rights of victims and the procedure in such sensitive cases. In fact, the requirements for the quality of the interrogations and the qualifications of the interrogators are particularly high in order to meet the needs of underage victims.

While the trial drew media attention, the prosecutor's decision to drop the charges also sparked wide-ranging discussions about how to handle sexual assaults against minors. The complex framework and the lack of clarity regarding the girl's age represent the limits of legal options and the protection of victims. The company will continue to monitor the outcome of the proceedings in the coming weeks and months.