Tuesday day one in the trial of three Afghans in the shocking Leonie case: after the opening statements of the Public Prosecution Service and the lawyers of the 13-year-old man murdered in Vienna had ended, the interrogation of the suspect was started. First of all, the 23-year-old and therefore the oldest of the three must take place before Judge Anna Marchart. He pleads partially guilty.
He was the only one who took care of Leonie. He protested vigorously at the Vienna Regional Court. Although he admits that he had sexual intercourse with the only 13-year-old. But that was in full consent and also with the consent of her alleged boyfriend – the third suspect. “He told me she was his girl and she would do anything for money.”
The then 22-year-old took advantage of that. Then he just wants to go to sleep. “So you just feel guilty for having sex with a minor?” asked assistant judge Wolfgang Etl. The first accused said yes, but at the same time said: “Leonie said she is 18 years old and Austrian.”
When he woke up again, the girl would have felt bad. The other two accused had told him that the 13-year-old was drunk and had been drinking ecstasy while he was sleeping. “I asked her if she needed an ambulance or a taxi to take her home. She didn’t want that,” said the 23-year-old. He tried to help her all the time: giving her water, giving her chest compressions, and trying to get her out of the apartment. However, he did not call rescuers. This causes a lot of misunderstanding among both the judges and the jury: “Why do you want to put a seriously injured, dying person in a taxi?” asks Etl, startled.
“It just so happened”
He only filmed the other two accused “so those two couldn’t deny it at some point”. Because he always wanted the best for the 13-year-old: “It just happened! I would give my blood to bring that girl back to life. I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart to the family that this happened. “But he doesn’t feel responsible for the 13-year-old’s death, nor does he want her to be raped…
He faces life imprisonment
The statements of the two other accused Afghans do not match the 23-year-old’s story. A witness he called when Leonie stopped breathing also gave a very different version. If convicted, the prime suspect faces life imprisonment – juvenile criminal law no longer applies to him…
The hearing continues on Wednesday. The other two suspects will be questioned over the next two days.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
