Robbery trial in Linz – 18-year-old used as bait in the attack on a taxi driver

“I did not even think that I could go to court because of this. I also did not know that there would be a knife,” says the 18-year-old. But as so often in the courtroom, the same applies to the native Romanian: hanged, arrested. And that is why the young woman was on Tuesday before Judge Ralf Sigl in the court of Linz for aggravated theft.

In the autumn of the previous year, she was the bait in the robbery that her brother (20), her then boyfriend (22) and an accomplice still at large on a taxi driver in Langenstein (Upper Austria) had planned by her brother. (20), her then boyfriend (22). The quartet’s motive: money, because all four of them were notorious for being broke.

Robbers were left without loot
The 46-year-old had a crush on the teen and lent her money. So she arranged a meeting, drove the taxi gal to a sports field. But there was no sex. At the prearranged signal – an open car door – the three accomplices, masked in black tights and armed with a knife and soft gun, rushed to the car. They dragged the young woman out of the car, only to appear, and beat the taxi driver with their fists and guns. Although they beat him badly, he was able to escape by car. The attackers did not receive his wallet.

Prison sentences for attempted aggravated robbery
The jury therefore ruled on attempted robbery with violence. That meant 12 months for the 18-year-old. Her brother was sentenced to 24 months, eight of which were unconditional, and her ex-boyfriend to 30 months. The taxi driver receives 2000 € compensation. Two co-defendants, who were only involved in thefts, were sentenced to 12 months partly suspended and 21 months in prison, respectively. All statements are not final.