Austrian Man Accused of Unspeakable Crimes

There weren't seven cases of rape, there were seven children as the product of rape. This guy is a monster.

My god, this is so horrible. He held her captive for 24 years and the maximum he faces is 20 years in prison? Justice must be on vacation in Austria. Where is Texas Justice when you need it?

Damn straight...the whole world needs more texas justice.

I cannot believe that this monster is only facing a maximum of 15 years in prison. I am not at all familiar with the Austrian justice system, but I would think he's probably facing charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, battery, etc. My guess is the most serious charge is rape and the Austrians have screwy system where the sentences for each count run concurrent to one another, meaning that the convict only serves time for the most egregious offense (which, in this case, is rape). In any case, it stinks.

I'm not particularly fond of justice systems that emphasize rehabilitation. It would be nice if we could send criminals to some school and transform them into law-abiding citizens. But, the simple fact is rehabilitation rarely works. For centuries the U.S. justice system tried to rehab criminals, employing methods ranging from isolating, silencing and beating convicts to having criminals talk things through with counselors. Nothing has worked and, quite frankly, I doubt that any system is capable of taking the worst of the worst and turning them into decent people. Does anyone realistically think that a man who repeatedly rapes a child can be reformed?

Does anyone realistically think that a man who repeatedly rapes a child can be reformed?

I'd say no. I also think it is pretty tough to change people at a character level and thats what a lot of crime boils down to.

I'll ask this. Why would we want to? Seriously. Let's say we can work some miracle and turn a piece of crap like this guy into some benevolent vessel of peace and love. Does ANYONE want that? Do we want a guy like this, inspite of his heinous unspeakable crimes, walking around due to some miraculous rehabilitation? I don't. I couldn't care less if he is rehabed or not. He still did the crime. He still took away his daughter's life for 24 years and subjected her and the children to gross human atrocity. Becoming a better person doesn't pay her or society back for his crimes.

I cannot believe that this monster is only facing a maximum of 15 years in prison. I am not at all familiar with the Austrian justice system, but I would think he's probably facing charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, battery, etc. My guess is the most serious charge is rape and the Austrians have screwy system where the sentences for each count run concurrent to one another, meaning that the convict only serves time for the most egregious offense (which, in this case, is rape). In any case, it stinks.

I'm not particularly fond of justice systems that emphasize rehabilitation. It would be nice if we could send criminals to some school and transform them into law-abiding citizens. But, the simple fact is rehabilitation rarely works. For centuries the U.S. justice system tried to rehab criminals, employing methods ranging from isolating, silencing and beating convicts to having criminals talk things through with counselors. Nothing has worked and, quite frankly, I doubt that any system is capable of taking the worst of the worst and turning them into decent people. Does anyone realistically think that a man who repeatedly rapes a child can be reformed?

Excellent post.

From what I have read, most European systems have concurrent sentencing. They also do not bring additional counts for the related crimes.

Joe, before we go screaming all over their system, what kind of sentence would this guy be looking at if his crimes were committed here in the United States?

Joe, before we go screaming all over their system, what kind of sentence would this guy be looking at if his crimes were committed here in the United States?

I know you addressed your question to JoeR, but let me take a crack. He'd be facing hundreds of years in prison in just about any state in the country.

What SGG said.

Honestly, I don't know exactly but certainly life w/out parole is a possibility in every State (I think) and, unlike the European system, he could get consecutive sentences for the kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, and everything else the could charge him with.

What appears to be a significant difference in the two systems is that, in the US, prosecutors can keep adding charges for different crimes and keep piling on the years.

Mind you, I am not a criminal lawyer - I just play one on the Warpath.

Damn straight...the whole world needs more texas justice.

I wouldn't go that far, them people are crazy convict the innocent as well as the guilty indiscriminately (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/02/60minutes/main4065454.shtml).

I wouldn't go that far, them people are crazy convict the innocent as well as the guilty indiscriminately (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/02/60minutes/main4065454.shtml).

Well, for every good action, there is always a negative. For the 17 they have found, I am confident they have put to justice thousands upon thousands.
You hate to hear stories about guys that were innocent, but unfortunately it's a side effect of our system.