Image: VOLKER Weihbold
Serious child abuse, rape, coercion and threats: the public prosecutor’s office has made serious allegations against a 38-year-old man from Steyr. According to the indictment, the 16-times criminal is said to have severely abused the daughter of a friend from the beginning of 2019 to November 2022. The child was five to eight years old at the time of the crime. Today, Thursday, the man has to answer to a panel of judges at the Steyr Regional Court.
As Andreas Pechatschek from the Steyr public prosecutor’s office reports on request, the accused is not the partner, but a good friend who lived near the woman and kept looking after the girl. Therefore, the offense of abuse of a relationship of authority is also charged.
mother knew nothing
The mother didn’t notice anything, she was not charged with any criminal charges, she was invited as a witness in this case, says Pechatschek.
According to the indictment, the 38-year-old is said to have played porn films to the girl. In order not to be exposed, he is said to have threatened the child: “Don’t you dare tell me anything, otherwise I’ll hit you!”
Hort teacher sounded the alarm
The child ended up talking to friends about what had been done to her. The girl then confided in a day-care teacher, who informed the authorities about the suspicion of abuse.
The accused mostly confessed, says the prosecutor. According to the report, the abuse caused the girl to be in an agonizing condition over a long period of time, which is why the accused faces up to 15 years in prison. So far, he has been known to the authorities mainly for property crimes, especially burglaries.
Source: Nachrichten
