Former Politician Peter Pilz Convicted of Defamation - Not Legally Binding

Ex-politician Peter Pilz was found guilty of defamation on Thursday in Vienna, although the verdict is not yet legally binding. In his book, he insinuated regarding the death of former Justice Department head Christian Pilnacek that several top officials, on behalf of the ÖVP, attempted to influence investigations and cover up incidents. According to the court, Pilz must pay a total of 57,000 euros in compensation. The book is to be confiscated, but only once the verdict is legally binding.

Pilz intends to appeal

Federal Police Director Michael Takacs and three other top police officers initiated the media trial against Zack Media GmbH, of which Pilz is the publisher. According to the verdict, the former politician and now publicist must pay 15,000 euros to Takacs, the same amount to two other officials, and one receives 12,000 euros. The court fully sided with the complainants. The verdict must also be published in the "Kronen Zeitung". The public prosecutor's office made no statement, and Pilz intends to appeal the verdict.

Judge Daniel Potmesil stated in his reasoning that it was clear to him after reading the book that the objective facts of defamation were present. "But it is about," he said towards the author regarding the intention to hold the ÖVP accountable for mistakes. However, the question arose whether the allegations were true or not. While it is undisputed that the ÖVP had an interest in Pilnacek, there is no evidence of influencing the investigations.

The legal representation of the officials affected by the book emphasized before the verdict that the claims were completely unfounded and published without journalistic diligence. There is no indication for the insinuated thesis that a murder was staged as a suicide in the Pilnacek case. On the contrary, everything points to what the court expert has already stated: "That it was a simple accident." The main witness, Pilnacek's former partner, is again a "prime example of a completely unreliable witness."

Pilz himself did not miss the opportunity to give a final statement before the court decision. He saw the plaintiff as having misused the passage concerning the possibility of murder. In fact, it is written there that a homicide cannot "be ruled out." However, there is a commonality between all three forensic reports: "None of them are able to determine that it was a suicide." "Why do I have to ask questions?" Pilz wanted to know and predictably provided the answer: Because the investigators did not.

Journalist Interviewed

Also summoned on Thursday were additional witnesses, first the "Krone" journalist Erich Vogl. He described in his questioning by the judge how he had been researching Pilnacek's death from the first day. Initially, it was assumed to be a suicide, but this opinion changed during the course of the investigation. Vogl also confirmed that the ÖVP had tried to "shut down" the coverage to some extent. "That didn't work," he said.

A woman who had lived with Pilnacek's former partner was also questioned. She described how she had brought the department head, who had been stopped drunk near Tulln the previous evening, home, and how she experienced Pilnacek's disappearance and the discovery of the body the next day. She also had - based on statements from the community doctor and firefighters - at least doubts that it was a suicide.

The witness also reported that Pilnacek's former partner had contacted card readers and fortune tellers, who also expressed doubts about the circumstances of the death. "It took on such a crazy dynamic," she described during her questioning. However, she herself does not believe in such esoteric methods. And even in the wider circle of the women, there were numerous speculations and conspiracy theories.

Investigations Against Pilnacek's Widow Dropped

"Die Presse" reported on Thursday that the public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt had investigated Pilnacek's widow, but these investigations were dropped on December 4th. It involved Pilnacek's phone, which she destroyed with a blowtorch a few weeks after his death and then disposed of, as she herself stated to the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA). The allegations were property damage and suppression of evidence.

(APA/Red)

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