Act of revenge or desperate act? Violent confrontation at school

Act of revenge or desperate act? Violent confrontation at school

The courts in Graz are currently dealing with an extraordinary case: a 15-year-old is on trial for attempted murder. The background is tragic and complicated, as the defendant herself was previously the victim of a brutal attack. On June 1, she stabbed a girl in the lower back, apparently out of a sense of revenge.

The incident follows a brutal attack that occurred back in February this year. At that time, the teenager was lured into a house by several other girls and injured with punches and kicks. The whole thing went so far that they were even beaten with an iron rod and their hair and clothes were set on fire. One reason for the resulting act of revenge was that the defendant allegedly laughed when the brother of one of the attackers had to be resuscitated due to a drug overdose.

The crime and its circumstances

In the period that followed, the situation came to a head: within months, the defendant felt compelled to strike back. She took a knife with her and went to find one of the girls who had hurt her before. During this argument she demanded an apology, which was refused. As the other girl walked on, the 15-year-old followed her and stabbed her - the stab was actually supposed to go into the buttock, but ended up hitting the back.

Interestingly, the accused's 13-year-old sister originally confessed to the crime. Since she was not yet of criminal responsibility at the time, this could indicate that the crime was planned, as the public prosecutor argues. Nevertheless, the defense attorney viewed this action as a sign of rashness and not as a calculated crime.

The reactions and the consequences

The 15-year-old was also burdened by documents that were found during her time in prison. In these documents, she made derogatory comments toward others, which the judges and prosecutors viewed as suspicious. The defense attorney, however, interpreted these statements as an expression of her emotions and frustration with her situation.

The defendant's lawyer also expressed his concerns about the general willingness to use violence in society. He not only called for fair treatment for his client, but also for a rethink in politics to counteract the spiral of violence. “It can’t go on like this, with everyone stabbing everyone,” he said in the courtroom. The psychological consequences of the incident are already noticeable for the defendant: she suffers from post-traumatic symptoms, including flashbacks and sleep disorders.

The audience was excluded during the hearing to protect the privacy of those involved. A verdict is expected by the afternoon. This dramatic story casts a shadow over the problems of dealing with violence among young people. For more information on this specific incident, see the report on www.diepresse.com.