```html Rape Under Sleeping Pills: Eight Years Imprisonment for Carinthian ```

The man is said to have drugged at least one woman with a strong sleeping pill before the act and assaulted another sleeping woman. However, the number of those affected could be significantly higher. The verdict was not yet legally binding.

A 38-year-old woman made serious allegations against the accused a year and a half ago. She said she drank a beer in his apartment, then had a blackout and couldn't remember anything. The active ingredient Zolpidem was detected in her blood and urine - a drug that is actually prescribed for chronic sleep disorders. Apart from this application, it is a "classic knockout drug," as expert Manfred Kollroser explained in court. Not only does one become completely defenseless after taking it - victims also showed amnesia, meaning they can't remember anything. And: If too much time passes after ingestion, the substance is very difficult to detect, if not impossible.

More Than 1,000 Photos and Videos Found

After the woman's report, the police raided the 63-year-old's apartment and found a video that the accused had made himself of the assault on the 38-year-old. Another video of the second victim was also found: It shows the 63-year-old assaulting the sleeping woman in his apartment while her one-year-old son sleeps next to her. But that was just the tip of the iceberg, noted prosecutor Daniela Zupanc: More than 1,000 photos and videos were secured, showing the accused abusing motionless, "obviously drugged" women.

The investigations into these files were discontinued because the identity of the women could not be determined. It was not even clear whether the man had recorded the videos in Carinthia or in Africa, where he often was. In any case, several webcams were found in his bedroom. "Even I find it difficult to put this into words," explained the experienced prosecutor: "It just causes me a strong gag reflex."

The accused himself denied his guilt throughout the trial. He pointed out that he was still in contact with both women. The one who had received the sleeping pill even wanted to withdraw the complaint against him, although she stated in court that she was "not in agreement" with the actions of the accused. The second woman stated in court that she was unaware of the actions. However, she also did not give her consent. "Sorry!" she said to the accused as she left the room. For the prosecutor, it was clear that there was a "dependency relationship" between the women and the man, which he exploited.

"Particular Disregard for Human Dignity"

The jury, chaired by Judge Gernot Kugi, found the man guilty after a short deliberation. Because the 63-year-old had also committed particularly degrading acts, the sentencing range was extended to five to 15 years. The guilt was clearly proven: The administration of the sleeping pill was only possible during the time window when the affected woman was in his apartment. The fact that he also filmed the acts was beneficial to the investigation. And in general, there is a "particular disregard for human dignity" and a "particularly high social disturbance value," for example, by committing the acts right next to a sleeping baby. There is no doubt that the man "deliberately used knockout drops," and he also admitted himself that there was no consent from the women.

The accused filed an appeal and a nullity complaint. Prosecutor Zupanc made no statement.

(APA/Red)

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