The man was charged, among other things, with intentional public endangerment. In addition to a sentence, placement in a forensic-therapeutic center was requested. The Romanian pleaded guilty. A verdict is expected in the afternoon.

The 32-year-old is said to have driven a truck at full speed in reverse into several parts of the church building in Brunn am Gebirge multiple times after a "rampage" from Vienna to Brunn am Gebirge on July 8 of the previous year, causing several accidents. The truck crashed into the entrance area and the glass exterior wall. The man recorded the act on video with his mobile phone and published it on the internet. When the police arrived, the Romanian got out of the truck and allowed himself to be arrested without resistance. The damage to the building amounted to around 825,000 euros.

Prosecutor: "Exceptionally Reckless Driving"

During the "rampage" from Vienna-Liesing to Brunn am Gebirge, the truck driver was involved in five collisions, according to the prosecutor. Two car passengers, aged 25 and 26, reported pain after a collision when the truck exited a company premises. Without stopping, the truck driver continued on his way, the women described. The representative of the prosecution spoke of the accused's "exceptionally reckless driving." Property damage occurred four times, but there were also injuries. According to the indictment, the man allegedly forced victims to swerve. Two women reported "fear of death" during police questioning, suffering severe psychological consequences.

At the time of the crime, a pastor and a couple were conducting a marriage preparation talk on the ground floor of the church. The 38-year-old pastor reported an "exceptionally loud" noise, after which he called emergency services. The three people, as well as the building technician, remained uninjured. The Pentecostal church has not joined the proceedings as a private party. "We have forgiven him and wish him all the best," said the witness.

Before this incident, the accused, who last lived in Vienna, allegedly tore a Bible on the church grounds' parking lot on May 22, 2024, saying, "God will punish you." "I hated God and argued with God," said the 32-year-old. On May 25 of the previous year, he allegedly dangerously threatened members of the Pentecostal church during a livestream of a community conference by posting publicly visible comments. Among other things, it read, "You will cry, but so will I. You have destroyed my life. I have been looking for you for a long time." and "You will regret it, even after ten years." The accused said it was "crazy" and "nonsense."

Church Was "Center of His Life" for the Accused

The defense attorney described his client as a "very religious person for whom the church was the center of his life." "The details of the 'rampage' - if you want to call it that - are no longer known to him," said the lawyer. The fact that the accused was not accepted into the Pentecostal church in Brunn am Gebirge had offended him. In the meantime, the defendant is "reformed." His client wants to make amends for the damage - as far as possible - emphasized the defense attorney, who asked for a lenient sentence.

"Of course, I am guilty. I am sorry. It was not planned for me to physically or psychologically harm anyone," said the Romanian. "I know that what I did is not normal," he cited stress as a reason, among other things. "I wanted to get to the church quickly and break the glass." Furthermore, the 32-year-old said: "It can happen to anyone to lose control." The additional charges in the jury trial included endangerment of physical safety, partly serious bodily harm, coercion, disturbance of religious practice, and serious property damage. The Romanian is in provisional detention. In the event of a conviction, he faces up to ten years in prison. The prosecutor also referred to "massive prior convictions" in the closing argument. The accused asked for a "chance" to change his life.

Expert: "Bomb" Dormant in the Accused

Expert Manfred Walzl described the accused as "extremely psychologically conspicuous." The 32-year-old suffers from a personality disorder but is accountable. A "bomb" is dormant in the man, said the expert. "If you hit the wrong button with him," it leads to an explosive discharge. "It was de facto already the beginning of a rampage," Walzl stated. The accused has learned nothing from his previous convictions, does not feel sick, and refuses medication. The accused is dealing with an "absolutely therapy-requiring illness," and the conditions for an admission were met, according to the expert.

Outside the church community, the accused never had friends, said the psychological expert Anita Raiger. "If he doesn't feel recognized, it flips a switch in him, and he explodes," she said. After a series of offenses by the 32-year-old in Germany and Austria, including domestic violence, she saw a relapse risk of at least 50 percent in the next five years.

Already in 2022, the accused had caused a police operation in connection with a religious community facility in St. Pölten. He had threatened a man and destroyed glass panes with a telescopic baton, and was then convicted of coercion and property damage to four months probation and a fine. Four months after completing an anti-aggression training, the incident in Brunn am Gebirge occurred.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.