Vienna abuse case

Trial postponed because defendant “at war”

(Bild: APA/Roland Schlager)

Two Ukrainians allegedly raped a woman in a Viennese hotel in January 2022, before the Russian invasion. One did not appear at the trial due to illness, the other defendant was "at war", as his defense lawyer explained.

Two men from Ukraine allegedly raped a young woman in a hotel in Vienna on the night of January 16, 2022 - a few weeks before the Russian invasion of their home country. On Tuesday, the 36 and 34-year-old men were due to stand trial before a panel of lay judges at the regional court. However, the trial had to be adjourned - the younger of the two has received a call-up order to the Ukrainian army.

Second defendant ill
The 34-year-old is "at war", as his defense lawyer explained to a panel of lay judges (chair: Eva Brandstetter). "Do you know where he is? The front section?" the judge wanted to know. The lawyer replied in the negative. When asked whether she knew how long her client would have to serve, the legal representative said: "That is not foreseeable".

The older defendant was absent due to illness, his legal representative submitted a corresponding confirmation. The trial was therefore postponed until mid-May. It is unclear whether a trial can then be held - at best only against the 36-year-old.

Raped in hotel
The two men are accused of approaching their victim on the street and identifying themselves as Ukrainian tourists. They engaged the woman in conversation, invited her to their hotel room and suggested that they move the conversation to her room. There, one of the two allegedly raped the woman after the other had pushed her to the floor and pinned her down.