The Volovets District Court of the Transcarpathian region is currently considering a high-profile case involving the rape of a 14-year-old girl by three teenagers. Despite significant public outcry, the final court debates have been postponed again.
What happened this time?
The Miller law firm, which represents the interests of the victim, reported another attempt to delay the process by the defense of the accused.
On December 26, during the hearing, the defense filed a motion to disqualify the presiding judge, but the court rejected it. At the same time, the mother of one of the defendants reported that she had been hospitalized, although no evidence of this was presented. Another mother stated during the hearing that she was feeling unwell, which was the reason for postponing the debate to January 10, 2025.
Background of the case
The crime that shocked Ukraine occurred on August 24, 2021 in the village of Verkhni Vorota. Three underage boys sexually assaulted a girl, recorded it on video, and posted it online. The court initially sentenced the defendants to five years in prison, but the sentence was later reduced to two years of probation. This decision caused a wave of public outrage.
Why is the community outraged?
- Light sentence . The defendants were not imprisoned because of their minor age.
- Behavior after release . After being released, the teenagers did not comply with the conditions of house arrest, publicly insulted the victim, and created threatening conditions for her.
- Wealthy families . The village notes that the families of the accused are quite wealthy, which raises suspicions of attempts to avoid fair punishment.
On January 10, the final debates will take place, after which each of the accused will have the opportunity to say their last word. After that, the court will make a final decision. The public expects a fair verdict, which will become an example that serious crimes do not go unpunished.
