15-year-old convicted – millionaire’s son beats victim, sets car on fire

“I have known the family for forty years. “Not only as a lawyer, but also as a friend,” the lawyer of the young first defendant opens his plea, “And of course I wondered how it could have come to this that this child developed like this?” the poor academic performance results of the youngster. “Then he drifted in these circles. The parents recognized the negative development of the child too late.”

Astrid Wagner, the lawyer for the second defendant, puts it more drastically: ‘It is a case of neglect of wealth.’ Because the first defendant ‘comes from a very wealthy family’. Specifically, one of the wealthiest in Austria. Her client, however, comes from the middle class, but was swept away by the attraction of the colorful first defendant.

In Hall 11 of the Vienna Regional Court, the millionaire’s son, who appears in a suit, tie and sparklingly polished white sneakers, is treated like any other defendant by Judge Daniela Forcedleitner. What does Mrs. Rat want to know from the 15-year-old about what happened on March 11, 2023 in the parking lot of the Schafbergbad? “I set the Mercedes on fire,” admits the scion of a well-known family calmly and with bowed head. Together with a friend, he came up with the ‘stupid idea’. “I’ve been a judge for 30 years, but it’s rare for young people to set fire to a car. “Most of them are garbage cans,” said Forcedleidner, wondering about the outbreak of violence. That was not stopped by the car, which burned out completely. The boys smashed the windshield and kicked in the mirrors of four other vehicles, causing five-figure damages.

Not the only crime the youngster is accused of. The trial also involves a case of serious bodily harm, coercion and theft. On the evening of January 26, 2023, the two defendants and other friends, some of whom were minors, agreed to meet a young person of the same age whom they knew in Schafberg. “We knew we wanted to do something to him when he came up,” the millionaire’s son confesses at this point. Why? He could not explain. He would not have had a specific problem with him, but someone else in the group did. Apparently it was about a girl.

First, a minor got into a fight with the victim. Then the 13-year-old and the second defendant stole his Airpods and jacket under the threat of being beaten. When the victim ran away after the robbery screaming for help, they ran after him, forcing the boy to kneel down and apologize. While they continued to hit and kick him. A video was recorded by one of the young people present of the humiliating act, which resulted in a shoulder and nose injury. “It was very unnecessary and stupid,” the 15-year-old said on Monday. He presents himself as cleansed.

He spent a year in Portugal as part of a privately organized project with psychological and socio-educational support, which his parents financed for him. The father also compensated for the material damage. In court, his lawyer also handed over 4,800 euros in damages to the victim’s representative. “Dad paid well again,” is the hope that the youngster will have to pay back some of it. The father nods. “So that he feels that it has repercussions,” warns Mrs. Rat as she pronounced the jury sentence of three months suspended for the first defendant and six months suspended for the second defendant, who is also accused of the robbery. These are not on the reputation certificate.

At the end of the hearing, the experienced juvenile judge refutes the harsh introductory words of the defense: “Parents are not always to blame for everything! They cannot tie up their children, we all know that.”