Carl Hirschmann Child Sex Prison Sentence Confirmed

Is the Carl Hirschmann saga finally coming to an end? It might, though it is down to him to draw the line here. Since 2009, I've been posting regular updates on him and his many and varied court cases. Now the Swiss High Court has spoken. It confirmed a prison sentence from 2011 as correct. Finally, Carl Hirschmann is going to prison for paedophile sex. Or is he?

Carl Hirschmann

Carl Hirschmann moved from Switzerland to London after the series of court cases that had him in newspapers almost daily for two years. Now that the prison sentence has been finalized, it comes into force by law and has to be served by him. The judges of the Swiss High Court in Lausanne had refused to budge despite Carl Hirschmann's lawyers pointing out that he had apologized to the girl and her parents as well as paying reparations. They were of the opinion that both had been part of the deal with the court in Zurich and had been reflected in the lenient prison sentence handed to him. They also wanted to make it quite clear that rich criminals can't buy out of prison cards in Switzerland.

The deal sees Carl Hirschmann go to prison for 12 months, while 20 months are converted into a suspended sentence. The 12 months prison have to be served in Switzerland, though, implying that the millionaire has to return there to sit it out. He may choose to return of his own free will. If he does that, then he can work things to his advantage. If he shows an employment of any kind, he can spend the day outside of prison and is only asked to return in the evening. If he doesn't show an employment, he could still be put into an 'open' prison (i.e. no high walls, usually somewhere in Switzerland's beautiful countryside).

He could, on the other side, think he is being clever by sitting tight in London. Swiss authorities have already made it clear that they would apply to the United Kingdom for extradition should that be the case. They also made it clear that they expect the extradition to be followed as British judges wouldn't want to send the wrong kind of signals to paedophiles in their own country. It is also a question if such extradition proceedings would bring Carl Hirschmann into the sex offenders register (which he has so far escaped as he got sentenced in Switzerland).

With some luck, this might be one of the last aarticles on the young man from a rich family without morals. Or it might just be the start of a new series of court cases, this time handled in the limelight of London. It is up to Carl Hirschmann what it will be.

Further reading
The Carl Hirschmann Trial: It Was All About Sex
Carl Hirschmann Appeals Against Prison Sentence
Another Public Humiliation For Carl Hirschmann

A Man of His Word: Roger Federer

Under the leadership of Switzerland's tennis player number one Stanislas Wawrinka (that takes time to sink in) and with Roger Federer, the Swiss Davis Cup Team won against Serbia to qualify for the quarter finals against Kazakhstan. This will be played in Switzerland and Roger Federer will be part of the team. It shows a marked change to his earlier absences from the team.

Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer

Many will have noticed that the Swiss Davis Cup Team hasn't done anything remarkable for the last ten years or so. Roger Federer mostly declined to play as the scheduling of the Davis Cup ties interfered with his season planning. He declined again during the Australian Open 2014, only to make a spot decision days before the tie to come after all. What had brought on that sudden change of heart?

In an interview in 2006 with Swiss Television, he had said one sentence of importance to this issue. When asked about playing Davis Cup, he said 'when Stan is ready' he will try to help win the trophy. Stanislas Wawrinka stagnated and Roger Federer did his own thing. With Stanislas Wawrinka becoming Australian Open champion, Roger Federer made good on his promise made in 2006 and probably forgotten by most.

Despite the fact that playing Davis Cup is playing havoc with his season, he will help Stan the Man win for Switzerland. It is a trophy they both would like to have in their players' palmares. In an interview prior to the matches against Serbia, he said that 'this is not about me, this week belongs to Stan.' How good are their chances of winning the Davis Cup? How many teams from other countries can field two top ten tennis players?

And with Kazakhstan ousting Belgium from the draw, the Swiss team will be playing at home. This is further reason for both players to look forward to the matches to be held in April. Roger Federer definitely is looking forward to it if you want to go by his latest tweet. (And a question on the side: Who took up Patrick von Stutenzee's prognosis of a Stanislas Wawrinka win in Melbourne? He made the prediction on grounds that Roger Federer won his first Australian title after becoming Swiss Personality of the Year. Article link is below.)

Further reading
Swiss Personality of the Year Stanislas Wawrinka
Bernard Tomic in Roger Federer Jubilee Match
Tennis With Gay Appeal in London