Ex-Partner Sentenced for Sedation and Sexual Assault in Vienna
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Ex-Partner Sentenced for Sedation and Sexual Assault in Vienna
- A 43-year-old bus driver in Vienna has been sentenced to four years in prison for sedating and sexually assaulting his ex-partner, reportedly by mixing a sleeping aid into her tea.
- The verdict against the 43-year-old is not yet legally binding, and the case highlights the ongoing issue of sexual violence, including cases where sedatives are used, as seen in other European cases like the high-profile Gisèle Pelicot trial in France.
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A Vienna court has sentenced a 43-year-old man, identified as a bus driver, to four years in prison for allegedly sedating his ex-partner and then sexually assaulting her. The man is believed to have mixed a sleeping aid into the victim’s tea. The verdict is not yet legally binding.
This case falls under Austrian law that criminalizes sexual acts committed without consent, which includes acts involving coercion, threats, or abuse of power. Reforms to the Penal Code in 2004 abolished the distinction between rape within and outside marriage, making prosecution mandatory for marital rape. Additionally, a 2016 reform improved protection against sexual violence with a new clause, “Violation of sexual integrity,” making it a crime to engage in sexual intercourse against a person’s will or through coercion, punishable by up to two years in prison.
Cases involving sedatives in sexual assault have garnered attention across Europe. A notable example is the Gisèle Pelicot case in France, where her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2024 for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife over nine years and inviting other men to assault her while she was unconscious. The Pelicot trial, which involved 50 co-defendants also receiving prison sentences, brought significant focus to sexual violence and consent. The victim, Gisèle Pelicot, chose to waive her anonymity to encourage other victims to come forward.
In Austria, support and counselling centers are available for victims of sexual violence, including a women’s helpline and regional counselling centers. The Austrian government also funds charities that offer emergency assistance and counselling.