The accused pleaded guilty to the jury panel chaired by Judge Gernot Kugi. During the period in question, the eight-year-old had often stayed at her aunt’s house and slept in bed with her and her partner. The attacks then happened during the night and in the morning. According to the indictment, the aunt never knew anything about it. In total, there were about six incidents in which the accused is said to have performed sexual acts on the eight-year-old, according to prosecutor Markus Kitz.
The woman, who has long since grown up, was not in the room at the hearing, but a video of her questioning by the police was shown. She was in constant contact with the accused. For a long time she suppressed the incidents, she testified, during a holiday together, where the accused was also there, everything came up again. In 2021 she finally decided to file a complaint.
In court, the accused stated that he very much regrets it and that he has no idea how it could have come to this: “The whole family is suffering from this incident, if I had known at the time what I was doing with it, I would have it never done.” He also explained that he had also suppressed the crimes for a long time and hoped that his confession would make it easier for “everyone” to put an end to it.
The accused was acquitted. The reason for this was that the time of the crime was a long time ago and the incidents were only reported to the police in 2021. Thus, according to the court, the statute of limitations came into effect, which also referred to the 52-year-old’s irreproachable character and remorse, which is irrelevant for the acquittal for formal reasons. Prosecutor Kitz initially made no statement, so the decision is not final.
Source: Nachrichten
