Years of Abuse of Children and Stepchildren: Prison Sentence for 49-Year-Old

The man from the Waldviertel was accused of having beaten and locked up his underage children and stepchildren in the district of Gmünd, as well as having abused his ex-partner. The defendant largely denied the allegations.

Children and Ex-Girlfriend Abused Over Years

According to the indictment, a stepson, a stepdaughter, as well as a biological son and a biological daughter of the 49-year-old were abused. The period of the crime extended from 2009 to December 2023. The underage victims were reportedly controlled in their behavior, and their autonomous way of life was significantly restricted. The allegations range from physical abuse and beatings to being locked up for several hours or overnight in the laundry room and in the wood storage or storage room.

The stepdaughter, born in 2001, was also locked up in a basement and wood storage room from the age of eight. "The child was afraid of the dark," said the prosecutor in her opening statement. According to an expert, the girl suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. The need for therapy was estimated by the expert to be three to five years.

Proceedings Against Ex-Partner Dropped

The mother of the children and then-partner of the 49-year-old was also reportedly abused by the defendant and partially locked up overnight in the laundry room or wood storage room. The accused admitted on Monday to having hit her twice. In 2017, the woman moved out of the shared house with the children. Proceedings are also pending against the ex-partner of the 49-year-old for failing to prevent a punishable act. This was dropped and will be conducted at a later date. As a witness, the woman did not testify on Monday, and she, like a daughter, exercised her right to refuse to testify.

Defendant Partially Confessed

The defendant partially confessed. "I did not lock up any child and did not hit any child," emphasized the 49-year-old. "I keep asking myself why they claim that. I think it's jealousy. Because I have my life under control, because I have a house." However: "I admit to the kneeling. For example, they ruined my laptop and did not admit that they did it. So they had to kneel." So the children would know, "that you don't behave like that towards parents." He was also forced to kneel at a young age. That wasn't nice, "but it helped." He behaved "differently" afterwards. The defendant also confessed to pulling the children's hair and ears.

Victims Highlighted Recurrent Abuse

According to the victim representation, the 49-year-old was described as having a choleric disposition. This was also emphasized by the two stepchildren and the biological son in their respective testimonies, in which they reported recurrent abuse and punishments within the family unit. It was highlighted in the witness stand that children were repeatedly locked up.

The defendant's lawyer admitted that the indictment painted a dramatic picture, and the allegations were "extremely serious." However, he identified contradictory statements from the witnesses "with a certain tendency to exaggerate."

Son's Report Brought Case to Light

For two of the affected individuals, there is no longer a duty of care. The son, born in 2008, who had temporarily moved back in with his father several times and whose report brought the case to light, is now living with his grandmother. The youngest child, the 2015-born daughter of the 49-year-old, lives with a foster family.

Ultimately, after about an hour of deliberation, the jury court imposed a prison sentence of seven years. "Times have changed," emphasized the presiding judge during the verdict announcement. The incriminated actions have been punishable since a legal reform in 2009, even if there are no direct injuries. The sentence duration of seven years is "necessary and absolutely appropriate" in both general and specific preventive terms. The accused must understand that these are "not trivial offenses." Factors such as the long period of the crime and the multitude of victims were considered aggravating in the sentencing. The previously orderly lifestyle of the 49-year-old was considered mitigating.

The man from Waldviertel must pay his son around 3,100 euros, and the stepdaughter was awarded 36,000 euros. The defense attorney announced an appeal for nullity and appeal, and the prosecutor will also file an appeal for the sentence.

(APA/Red)

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