A 61-year-old had to answer for the regional court of Eisenstadt on Tuesday for serious sexual abuse of minors, abuse of a relationship of authority and serious physical injury in the form of psychological trauma. Although victims and witnesses weigh heavily on the man, he denied all allegations and pretended to be a “sweet uncle” who was badly played with. If found guilty, the father, who has been divorced twice, faces up to 15 years in prison.
Lisa S. (not her real name) went through hell during her childhood. The mother was unloving and ‘uninterested’ in the child, as a childhood friend of S. said. The stepfather hardly cared about the girl, which meant he only saw a “lying problem child” whom he didn’t believe anyway. The only (supposed) “lifeline” was the uncle, who then, in 2000, worked as a housekeeper at the Vienna Criminal Court.
But the current 61-year-old Gerhard P. turns out – at least according to the prosecutor’s indictment – as a repulsive pervert who manipulated the then 12-year-old so that she actually thought she was in a “love affair” with him. In reality, however, the married father would have satisfied his sexual desires with the schoolgirl.
“You mustn’t tell anyone our secret!”
French kisses and touches of the genitals were regular from then on. First sex at age 14. “That’s our secret. You can’t tell anyone about it,” he repeatedly told the child, according to his statements to the psychologist. But Lisa told her school friends – one of whom is now a psychotherapist and was called as a witness in court – that she had an “older friend”.
Gerhard P. was then in his late thirties and sexually abused his victim, sometimes while working at the court, until he was 16 years old. Then Lisa got her first boyfriend of the same age. More “normal” relationships with young men followed, but in her early twenties Lisa had a mental breakdown, as one of her ex-boyfriends described on the witness stand: “At first she didn’t say what was going on, but then she broke she. her silence and told what happened to her and today reported the suspect as the perpetrator.”
The abuse Lisa experienced was always present in our relationship. I even bought a guidebook and tried to help her.
An ex-boyfriend as a witness in court
Hope for justice later
The brave young woman sought advice to report her tormentor, but was initially misinformed that the crimes were already time-barred. Despair. Only later in the therapy did she find out that a complaint was still possible and she decided to hold Gerhard P. liable for the abuse.
During his trial in the grand jury room in Eisenstadt, P. spoke softly, his gaze was largely directed to the ground. He did not look the witnesses in the eye who slandered him. P. shifted nervously back and forth in the dock: “I never mistreated Lisa”, the suspect claimed. Only once was there consensual sex between him and the girl. However, she was already 15 years old and took the initiative: “I couldn’t look so fast, she was already sitting on me.” Disgusted and bewildered looks from the trial observers in the courtroom.
For the trauma my client suffered, I am claiming 60,000 euros in compensation on her behalf.
The attorney for Lisa S
The suspect faces a long prison sentence
The defendant always had an appropriate answer ready to the accusations and questions of judge Doris Halper-Praunias and court chairman Karl Mitterhöfer. The girl had “always made up stories and had a lively imagination,” was one of them. Lisa is still suffering from what P. allegedly did to her. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. In the afternoon, the jury adjourned the trial to hear other witnesses. If Gerhard P. is convicted, he risks between five and fifteen years in prison.
Gerhard P. was then in his late thirties and sexually abused his victim, sometimes while working at the court, until he was 16 years old. Then Lisa got her first boyfriend of the same age. More “normal” relationships with young men followed, but in her early twenties Lisa had a mental breakdown, as one of her ex-boyfriends described on the witness stand: “At first she didn’t say what was going on, but then she broke she. her silence and told what happened to her and today reported the suspect as the perpetrator.”
Hope for justice later
The brave young woman sought advice to report her tormentor, but was initially misinformed that the crimes were already time-barred. Despair. Only later in the therapy did she find out that a complaint was still possible and she decided to hold Gerhard P. liable for the abuse.
During his trial in the grand jury room in Eisenstadt, P. spoke softly, his gaze was largely directed to the ground. He did not look the witnesses in the eye who slandered him. P. shifted nervously back and forth in the dock: “I never mistreated Lisa”, the suspect claimed. Only once was there consensual sex between him and the girl. However, she was already 15 years old and took the initiative: “I couldn’t look so fast, she was already sitting on me.” Disgusted and bewildered looks from the trial observers in the courtroom.
The suspect faces a long prison sentence
The defendant always had an appropriate answer ready to the accusations and questions of judge Doris Halper-Praunias and court chairman Karl Mitterhöfer. The girl had “always made up stories and had a lively imagination,” was one of them. Lisa is still suffering from what P. allegedly did to her. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. In the afternoon, the jury adjourned the trial to hear other witnesses. If Gerhard P. is convicted, he risks between five and fifteen years in prison.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
