Seven convicted over attack on guest at Graz ball

Seven people were convicted of theft and bodily injury after an attack on a guest at the Graz Akademikerball, ORF reported. The court handed down the verdicts on Wednesday; they are not yet final.

The incident happened in January 2025. At about 3 a.m., a guest was walking home with his wife when someone pulled his fraternity cap from his head. He fell and suffered several broken ribs.

All seven defendants denied pushing or jostling the man. Video recordings did not prove robbery, so the court convicted them of theft and bodily injury instead.

One defendant received a two-month suspended prison sentence. The other six were deemed accomplices and each received a one-month suspended sentence. All sentences are suspended for three years. The defendants must also pay a total of 2,000 euros in compensation for pain and suffering, plus 100 euros for the cap.

The trial began in January and was adjourned once.