Because he is said to have abused two elementary school students around 20 years ago as a lifeguard at an indoor pool, a 70-year-old was on trial in St. Pölten on Thursday. The accused, who pleaded not guilty in the jury trial, got caught up in numerous contradictions during his questioning…
According to the indictment, the accused approached the two victims, who were born in 1991 and were in fourth grade at elementary school, in the indoor pool and offered to show them the “butterfly pool” in the basement. The attack in the facility’s massage area is said to have happened between September 2001 and summer 2002 – according to the public prosecutor’s office, the exact date can no longer be determined. A victim filed a complaint against an unknown person in 2021. The 70-year-old was investigated based on a description of the perpetrator and his place of residence. One of the two women had also recognized the accused on the street and with the police in a photo album from a company outing. “He was quite sure, there was no other option,” said the prosecutor about the 70-year-old. The defense attorney had to clarify “whether it was the right accused or whether the person had been confused”. He asked for an acquittal in case of doubt. According to the representative of private parties, the incident was described by his client “in great detail, clearly and unequivocally”. He joined the proceedings on behalf of the woman with a symbolic sum of 1,000 euros. Witnesses contradicted the accused. However, two former colleagues reported as witnesses that the lifeguards had master keys. From time to time one also took a “nap” in the massage area. The statement by the 70-year-old that he did not have long hair at the time also contradicted photos and witness interviews. The 70-year-old said he had never had a sexual interest in children and young people. It was countered that child pornography was found on the deleted part of his laptop hard drive during the house search. However, this was not part of the indictment, the investigation into pornographic depiction of minors has been temporarily suspended. “They took advantage of the opportunity and lured the two girls into the basement,” said the presiding judge in the verdict. The private parties were awarded 500 euros. The verdict was intended to show the public “that such acts will be punished,” said the judge. The normal way of life up to now and the fact that the crime was a long time ago mitigated this. Prosecutors and defense made no statement.
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