“Every now and then a tapperle”: 43-year-old Carinthian tortured his partner’s children

According to the criminal complaint, the children had to starve, stand in the corner for hours, and there were threats and beatings. The Graz Higher Regional Court had lifted his diversion because there was insufficient evidence of guilt and the guilt was serious. In the new trial, the Carinthian, who according to the judge had had a difficult childhood himself, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges, but said he had “just complained”. When asked, he admitted to “tapping” a child’s head every now and then. He was stressed about work. In fact, much more is said to have happened. The defendant once threatened one of the boys that he would have to smoke a whole carton of cigarettes until he vomited. That’s not true, said the defendant.

The diversion for the partner and mother of the children, who was originally in court with the defendant, was not lifted. She is said not to have used violence but to have looked away. The 43-year-old has not had any contact with the children for two years, which he said hurts him. After the verdict was announced, judge Gernot Kugi warned him: “Never show such behavior towards a child again!” The children – now 13 to 16 years old – were awarded compensation of 500 euros each, of which they had already received 100 in the course of the diversion.

The 43-year-old accepted the guilty verdict for torturing or neglecting minors, younger or defenseless people; the public prosecutor made no explanation. The judgment is therefore not legally binding.