Attempted Double Murder in Vienna: Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison

In addition to attempted murder twice, he was found guilty of serious robbery and oppressive theft. The verdict was initially not legally binding.

The man filed a nullity complaint and appeal, the prosecutor did not make a statement.

"Borders on a Miracle That the Two Survived"

The defendant had attacked the two for no comprehensible reason with a room hammer on the night of July 16, 2024, in Meiselstraße in Vienna-Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, knocked them unconscious and seriously injured them. "It borders on a miracle that the two survived," the prosecutor said at the beginning of the trial.

The 51-year-old homeless man suffered a cranial brain trauma as well as a complex mid-face trauma, multiple mid-face fractures, a subdural hematoma, nasal bone fractures and numerous lacerations. The 43-year-old woman sustained a severe open cranial brain trauma with two cuts in the left temple region, a left-sided galea hematoma, an open impression fracture of the bony skull cap with numerous fracture fragments, a subarachnoid and subdural bleeding and a bleeding in the left temporal lobe along with displacement of the brain midline. In addition, a displaced fracture of the left cheekbone and cuts behind the left earlobe were found in the hospital.

The woman has since been unable to pursue any gainful employment. After surviving two operations, she had to give up her job, and she relies on outside help at home. At night, she no longer dares to leave the house, she told the jury in her witness statement. During the day, she feels among crowds "like a little mouse that would prefer to hide".

Videos Played at Trial

Why the attack, which passers-by had filmed with their smartphones - the videos were played during the trial -, happened was inexplicable for both the victims and the eyewitnesses. The victims were sitting on a bench when the defendant approached them, initially stepped on the man, and then struck the victims with powerful blows to the head and face area with a hammer. He even lifted the already unconscious man off the ground to hit him in the face with the hammer once more.

"He is a severe alcoholic and uses drugs," the defense attorney argued. The defendant's brother had drowned in front of his eyes a few years ago, which he had hardly been able to cope with. Since then, he has been trying to numb himself with substances. "That makes him unpredictable," the lawyer said. However, the defendant did not act with the intention to kill.

"I Did It in the Heat of the Moment"

The 29-year-old subsequently claimed in his interrogation that the woman had been "negatively disposed" towards him: "She threatened to kill me, that I am a policeman." The man, on the other hand, had made attempts to attack him: "That's when I hit with the hammer. I did it in the heat of the moment." After the victims lay unconscious on the ground, the defendant also took their bags, which is why the charges also included aggravated robbery and theft.

(APA/Red)

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