A sexual predator abducted a ten-year-old girl into nearby woodland, assaulted her and then attempted to strangle her—just ten days after being released from prison. The child’s life was ultimately saved by a tracking function on her mobile phone, which enabled her father and the local mayor to locate her. The attacker, however, initially managed to flee.
The mobile phone saved her life
The accused lived in the same village as the girl and her family. On 26 February this year, he targeted the child, attacked her from behind and dragged her towards a wooded area, according to Hungary’s state news agency MTI.
The man attempted to carry out a sexual assault, but the girl resisted. He then began choking her for approximately ten minutes. As she continued to struggle and cry out for help, he forced her deeper into the forest, where he assaulted her before attempting to silence her permanently by strangling her with a rope.
The girl continued to resist. At one point, the attacker tried to drag her towards his home, but she would not yield. She was eventually found by her father and the village mayor, who had tracked her via her mobile phone. The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended by police and brought before the courts.
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Defendant seeks acquittal
The Tatabánya Regional Court sentenced the man, a repeat offender, to 20 years in a high-security prison for attempted aggravated homicide and other offences. He was also permanently barred from any occupation involving contact with minors and denied the possibility of parole.
Both the defence and the prosecution have appealed the ruling. The defendant is seeking a partial acquittal or a reduced sentence, while prosecutors have called for a harsher penalty.
The case will proceed at second instance before the Győr Court of Appeal.
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Featured image: illustration. Source: depositphotos.com
