Helsinki Court of Appeal Increases Sentences for 2018 Aggravated Rape of Teenage Girl
The Helsinki Court of Appeal has sentenced two men to two years and four months in prison for the aggravated rape of a 15-year-old girl in May 2018. The ruling increases the men’s previous sentences, handed down by the Helsinki District Court in April 2024.
The convicted men, Abdul Rahman Azizi (28) and Haseebullah Hayatzada (37), were found guilty of raping the girl in a hotel room after meeting her for the first time on the night of the crime. The victim, who had left her care placement without permission, was heavily intoxicated at the time, with a blood alcohol level of 1.14 per mille when she returned. Iltalehti reports that the men took turns raping her in multiple ways, with one waiting outside the room while the other assaulted her, leaving the girl feeling trapped and unable to escape.
Court Rulings and Appeals
The case was first heard in the Helsinki District Court, which convicted the men of rape but not aggravated rape. The court ruled that the men could not have known the girl was under 16, though it acknowledged their dominant position over the intoxicated and underage victim. Each was initially sentenced to one year and ten months in prison, reduced from a potential two years and two months due to delays in the trial.
Both men appealed the verdict, arguing for reduced sentences. The victim also appealed, seeking harsher penalties. The Helsinki Court of Appeal overturned the district court’s finding on the men’s knowledge of the victim’s age, stating that they had a duty to confirm it before engaging in sexual acts. Yle notes that the court described their ignorance as deliberate, reinforcing their criminal intent.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the rapes involved humiliating elements but did not meet the threshold for "especially humiliating" conduct. The sentences were increased to two years and ten months, but delays in the legal process led to a final reduction of six months, resulting in two years and four months of unconditional imprisonment.
Compensation and Evidence
The men were ordered to pay the victim €6,500 each in compensation for suffering and temporary harm, an increase from the district court’s earlier ruling of €11,000 in total. Yle reports that the victim’s account was consistent and supported by witness statements, medical reports, and DNA evidence, while the men’s testimonies were deemed generic and contradictory.
The court highlighted the age difference between the men and the victim, the exploitation of her vulnerable state, and the premeditated nature of the crime as factors in the increased sentences. Both men denied the charges throughout the proceedings.