The Vienna Regional Court handed down a scandalous verdict on Friday, acquitting ten boys aged between 16 and 21, despite being charged with committing sexual acts against a girl who was only 12 at the time.

The events detailed in the indictment took place between March and June 2023 in Favoriten. Two of the defendants were charged with rape, and all ten were accused of violating sexual self-determination.

“It is not about setting an example. It is not about issuing a verdict with a deterrent effect, but about making the defendants aware of the unlawfulness of their actions,”

– the prosecutor explained in his closing statement, stressing that he was convinced of the defendants’ guilt. The evidentiary proceedings “did not reveal any mitigating circumstances that could refute the suspicion.”

For the defendants it was “obvious” that the girl did not consent to the sexual acts: “They violated her sexual integrity. They did not respect her will. They exploited her. They abused the girl.” The victim “was simply afraid” and did not dare to confront the boys.

Eine Gruppe junger Migranten vergeht sich über Monate an einem damals erst zwölfjährigen Mädchen. Am Freitag endet ihr Prozeß in Freisprüchen – nicht rechtskräftig. https://t.co/V7Ymz8VTLV

— JUNGE FREIHEIT (@Junge_Freiheit) September 27, 2025

The defendants – with one exception, who was partly only 14 years old at the time of the crimes – were accused of performing sexual acts on the girl against her will. The incidents under discussion took place in a hotel room, stairwells, a hobby room, and at least three times in one of the defendants’ apartments. Two of the defendants were charged with rape, while the others were held accountable for violating sexual self-determination.

The initially raisedcharge of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor was dropped, as the prosecutor emphasised at the start of the trial: “The investigation did not prove with sufficient certainty that the defendants were aware that the victim was only twelve years old.”