Trial in Vienna Over Stalked Soprano: Man Had "Fallen Hopelessly in Love"
The man had experienced the soprano as a concert-goer on stage and had "fallen hopelessly in love with her", as he confessed after she had reported him. The proceedings against the remorsefully confessing, previously unblemished 50-year-old were dealt with in a diversionary manner.
The singer, who is 18 years younger, had been harassed by the defendant since 2014, as he bombarded her with emails and text messages via her Facebook account. As early as 2015, the man received a letter from a lawyer prohibiting him from making any further contact. He did not comply. Under false names, he created numerous Facebook accounts and additional email addresses and continued to message the victim.
Trial in Vienna: "I am a violinist myself. I wanted her attention"
"I am a violinist myself. I wanted her attention", he now explained his motives in court. The soprano is "an incredible artist", he raved: "I fell in love with her." When asked by Judge Danja Petschniker why he did not let go of the woman, even though she repeatedly blocked him on Facebook, the defendant said he was "in a difficult situation": "I was alone in Vienna. I come from the countryside. I lost control." He had managed to sit near her once or twice at a concert that the singer had attended. He had suspected that "this wonderful artist" might be attracted to him. "In between, I had the suspicion that what I was doing was not right," the defendant admitted. But "the urge in me" to write to her was stronger.
"What were you hoping for?", the judge wanted to know. - "That she might contact me after all. It would have been enough for me if she said, I am taken."
For the Victim, the Last Few Months Were "Not Very Fun"
The soprano testified as a witness after the defendant had left the courtroom at her request. She described that initially, the intrusive fan did not bother her much: "It's not pleasant." But then the man repeatedly appeared at her concerts and she spotted him in the audience: "That's a shock." In the end, she saw him not only at her baroque concerts but also on the street, for example at a tram station: "The last few months were not very fun. That's when I got scared."
Most recently, the artist received an email a few days ago, which she read in parts. In this letter, the 50-year-old promised to leave the woman alone in the future. He had "the highest interest in your well-being," the email read. And further: "I ask for forgiveness again."
Diversion Associated with Several Instructions
The defendant avoided a conviction. The criminal proceedings were settled by diversion. The 50-year-old deposited a fine of 250 euros and accepted a probation period of two years. By order, he was prohibited from making any contact with the soprano. In addition, he must undergo psychotherapy and present corresponding evidence to the court every quarter.
If he does not comply with the instructions, "you'll be sitting there," the judge emphasized to the man with a gesture towards the adjacent Josefstadt prison. And she appealed to him: "Find another artist that you like."
After consulting with his procedural assistant, the 50-year-old agreed to everything. The prosecutor also had no objections, whereupon the complaint was provisionally withdrawn with legal effect. "Hopefully you have now fallen out of love," the judge told the 50-year-old on his way home.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.