Fatal Shooting in Carinthia: Trial Starts Next Week
Initially, the public prosecutor's office investigated on suspicion of murder, but the defendant is now charged with grossly negligent homicide. The trial is scheduled for three hours, the court announced on Friday.
Trial Against 43-Year-Old Defendant Starts Next Week at Klagenfurt Regional Court
The incident occurred late in the evening of August 22 in Knappenberg (district of St. Veit an der Glan). Prior to this, there had been an argument in a tavern in Hüttenberg between the now accused and his stepson. The 43-year-old then drove home, followed by the stepson, the later victim, and a third person. The 43-year-old had stated that he felt threatened and therefore stepped outside with his Flobert rifle in hand. Investigations revealed that the victim then reached for the weapon, at which point the shot was fired, according to the public prosecutor's office.
The offense of grossly negligent homicide is applicable when there is a "remarkably careless handling of a loaded weapon," it was stated regarding the case. The investigation found that the weapon has a low trigger weight "and thus a shot could be fired with only slight pressure on the trigger." Therefore, there is no assumption of intent to kill on the part of the defendant.
(APA/Red)
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