Austrian court convicts eight Iraqis for New Year’s Eve gang-rape of tourist

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A defendant covers his face at the beginning of his trial on gang-raping a German tourist in Vienna, Austria. Photo: AP

Published: 5:07pm, 3 Mar 2017Updated: 10:14pm, 3 Mar 2017

An Austrian court found eight Iraqi nationals guilty on Thursday of gang-raping a German tourist on New Year’s Eve more than a year ago and sentenced them to prison terms of between nine and 13 years.

Charges against a ninth suspect were dismissed, said a court statement. The victim – a 28-year old woman – was awarded €25,000 (US$26,000) in damages. Both sides were appealing the decision, the statement said. The Iraqis, aged between 22 and 48, came to Austria as migrants between May and December 2015. Five subsequently were given refugee status.

The prosecution charged that the eight exploited the fact that the victim had been drinking heavily on New Year’s Eve 2015 and was unable to defend herself.

The court heard testimony that four of the men took her to a Vienna apartment where they were joined by the others and that all took turns raping her. When she regained control, she found herself naked in a bed.

A defendant covers his face as he is lead out of the court room after his trial on gang-raping a German tourist in Vienna. Photo: AP

Prosecutor Karina Fehringer said the victim continues to suffer post-traumatic effects from the assault that required psychiatric treatment.