Trial in Feldkirch

Schoolgirl had made up a rape

The pupil was quite meek in court and showed herself to be reasonable.(Bild: Krone KREATIV)

A teenager wanted to make herself important, marched to the police and claimed to have been raped by a stranger. For this lie, she was sentenced to 60 hours of community service at Feldkirch Regional Court (Vorarlberg).

In contrast to her extremely determined appearance at the police station after the alleged crime, the now 16-year-old schoolgirl was quite meek during the trial when public prosecutor Karin Dragosits reminded her of the implications of her brazen lie: "Rape is not a trivial offense, but a serious accusation. If you had specifically accused a person of rape, you would be sitting here today for the crime of defamation. What's more, making up rape accusations can undermine the credibility of those who have actually been the victim of such an act."

In front of the ice rink
The specific case: at the end of December, the 15-year-old girl from Oberland told the police that she had been approached by a man she did not know in front of the ice rink in Feldkirch. After a walk together, she went with him to his nearby apartment.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, the stranger began to fondle her and then raped her. The schoolgirl even gave a detailed description of the perpetrator. But she does not know exactly where the alleged tormentor's apartment is located. An investigation is launched, but it comes to nothing.

"My client has made a mistake"
The suspicion that the girl had made up the story was confirmed. The schoolgirl is questioned again. But the alleged victim remains stubbornly silent. During the trial, the defense tried to make a case for the liar: "My client made a mistake. Her parents separated. She wanted attention. But you have to leave the church in the village: The accused has only just turned 16 and is on the cusp of becoming an adult. She can't yet know the criminal dimensions of making a false statement."

Because the pupil is insightful and blameless, the delinquent benefits from diversion in the form of 60 hours of community service. She must now complete these within six months.