Three youths jailed for Denmark rape as acquittal quashed

The three defendants, all 17 at the time of the offence in September 2014, have now been convicted of rape or attempted rape and given jail terms.

The girl was found unresponsive behind bushes at a community hall in Herfolge, with her insulin pump disconnected and multiple abrasions on her body, and lacerations to her vagina and anus.

In April, the district court in Roskilde had originally found that the teenage victim was in a fit state to consent, acquitting the defendants and sparking anger and demonstrations in Denmark.

But the High Court of Eastern Denmark ruled on Monday that the victim was so drunk and affected by her diabetes, with a reportedly 12 units of alcohol in her blood and blood sugar levels several times higher than normal, that she was unable to consent to sex.

When the perpetrators were acquitted in the spring, there was a great debate in Denmark, not just about the case but about rape in general.

Two of the defendants admitted not knowing the girl's name, and did not speak to her during the sexual acts.

Two of the young men have received eight-month prison sentences, and the third a six-month jail term.

Amnesty International said there is "impunity" for the majority of rape cases in Denmark as most cases never reach trial. It said there is a "disproportionately high attrition rate in prosecuting cases of rape" there.