Brother Killed with Axe: 15-Year-Old Convicted of Murder

A 15-year-old was sentenced on Monday at the Leoben Regional Court to eight years and two months in prison for murder. He is said to have killed his 35-year-old brother with an axe in September 2024. He claimed that the older brother had sexually abused him for years. The defendant fully confessed. The verdict is not yet legally binding.

Repeated Disputes with Brother: Defendant Planned Murder

The teenager was only 14 years old at the time of the crime, just barely of criminal age. He lived with his mother, stepfather, and older brother in a house. There were repeated disputes with the older brother. "About how I should clean my room and so on," said the accused. One day, according to the prosecutor, he decided to kill his brother. He researched online about the possible sentence and how best to flee to Moscow. The day after these considerations, he stayed home from school to carry out his plan.

Deadly Axe Blows: 35-Year-Old Surprised in Sleep

He took an axe and a knife, but then put the knife away and went into his brother's room. The 35-year-old was sleeping deeply after his night shift. "He took the double axe and struck the man so hard that he fell out of bed," described the prosecutor. The autopsy report stated that the body showed 20 blows and eleven stabs. After the act, he packed the axe in his backpack and wandered aimlessly. Shortly thereafter, he was arrested.

What raised questions from the beginning was the motive. The accused mentioned disputes over a staircase that was not finished, then claimed to have heard voices and received a command to kill. There was also talk of beatings from the brother, and finally, he spoke of sexual abuse.

Sexual Abuse Cited as Motive

The defense attorney argued that his client had always been beaten by his brother from a young age. Eventually, it led to sexual assaults. "He just didn't want to be abused anymore," the lawyer stated as the motive. Judge Sabine Anzenberger asked the accused if there was a specific reason for the act on the day of the crime. "No," was the answer. The teenager said he had thought long and hard about whether to do it or not. But then he went into the room and killed his brother. "How?" the judge wanted to know. "I held the axe in both hands and struck against the forehead, back of the head, shoulder, and neck," the 15-year-old described. "Did you completely surprise him in his sleep?" the chairwoman inquired. "Yes," the accused answered emotionlessly.

The jury found the teenager guilty of murdering his brother. He was sentenced to eight years and two months in prison, not yet legally binding.

(APA/Red)

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