Four girls, only 13 years old and therefore minors, set fire to Vöcklabruck. The former music school was badly hit and the damage is enormous. The girls have nothing to fear in criminal matters, but problems may arise in civil matters.
Because they found it “fun and exciting”, according to their statements to the police, four girls (all 13 years old) set fire to the former music school in Vöcklabruck on Wednesday evening – reports the “Krone”. More than a hundred firefighters fought the flames for six hours. No one was injured and the material damage is estimated at several hundred thousand euros.
It’s about compensation
Although the Zündlers are not yet 14 years old and therefore not criminally liable, they can be ‘convicted’ – namely to pay damages. In principle, you are only capable of committing a crime from the age of fourteen, explains Silvia Dullinger, professor of civil law at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz: “But there is an exception, a so-called equitable liability.” Minors are capable of recognizing the dangerousness and unlawfulness of their behavior. According to the lawyer, they can also be held liable.
Fire is dangerous
“Especially in the case of arson, there have already been rulings in which ten or twelve year olds were held liable because it was said: Children are taught from an early age that playing with fire is dangerous.” it must first be determined whether the parents violated their duty of supervision and that this led to the arson. “Then the supervisors are liable,” says Dullinger.
Perpetrators are getting younger and younger
In Vöcklabruck, the young Zündlers are certainly a topic of conversation. Mayor Peter Schobesberger (SPÖ) speaks of a ‘worrying’ development: ‘We notice that the age limits are moving downwards – for all kinds of crimes and behavioral problems.’ Regarding the discussion about criminal liability, the local boss says: ‘I do not believe that children should be locked up. But it will not remain without consequences.’
108 firefighters volunteering for six hours in the middle of the night to fight the flames, and hundreds of thousands of euros in material damage to a building that was soon to be converted into apartments – that is anything but ‘funny’ and should not be trivialized.
When it comes to the crucial question of how to reduce juvenile delinquency, practitioners repeatedly note one thing: teenagers who become delinquent often lack stable relationships and contacts. Many have nowhere to stop. Putting them in prison cannot be a solution.
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.
