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Stalking case in Vienna: harassment of a young woman in court
A 22-year-old harassed a young woman in Vienna-Simmering by repeatedly positioning himself in front of her bedroom. The case brought stalking allegations and legal consequences.
Stalking case in Vienna: harassment of a young woman in court
An incident occurred in the heart of Vienna-Simmering that moved people's minds. A 23-year-old woman has been harassed by an unknown man since the beginning of June. This incident began when the man knocked on her bedroom window at eight o'clock one morning and didn't leave until late at night. Despite repeated police interventions and requests to leave, the harasser did not let up and finally positioned himself in front of the woman's apartment. This led to the person concerned filing a complaint.
A hearing against the 22-year-old defendant took place at the regional court on Tuesday. The public prosecutor accused him of persistent pursuit, also known as stalking. The defendant had positioned himself in front of the woman's bedroom several times, observed her and was seen in her immediate surroundings, including the park and a bus. In his defense, the defendant stated that he had developed feelings for the woman.
The effects on those affected
For the young woman, the situation was not only unpleasant but also stressful. She described feeling unsafe during her daily activities, especially when the man was around her. Despite reassurance from the police, who had informed him that his advances were interpreted as “love,” she remained fearful of continued persecution. In a powerful statement, she emphasized that she could no longer stay in her apartment and that the situation was affecting her greatly.
The defendant confessed in court and promised that something like this would never happen again. Because of his confession and his clean past, the single judge decided to spare him a criminal record. Instead, he will have to perform community service totaling 120 hours.
In addition to the legal clarification, the defendant's defense attorney handed over financial compensation of 300 euros to the husband of the affected person in the courtroom. The woman herself had not made any claims in her witness statement. However, this decision is not yet final and the prosecutor has not yet commented in more detail.