"I am a Murderer": 21-Year-Old Sentenced After Femicide in Vienna Apartment

On Monday, a 21-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Vienna for murder because he beat his girlfriend to death in a drug-induced frenzy in an apartment in Vienna-Leopoldstadt in February. Tourists who had rented an apartment across the street notified the police because they heard a loud argument in the hallway and observed through the peephole how the accused knocked the woman to the ground and dragged her into the apartment.

Additionally, the accused was admitted to a forensic-therapeutic center due to his personality disorder and severe drug abuse. The verdict is not yet legally binding. While the accused, who was represented by lawyer Rudolf Mayer, accepted the decision, the prosecutor made no statement.

Accused Pleaded Guilty at Trial

The 21-year-old pleaded guilty. "Now she is dead, I am a murderer," he said repeatedly after his arrest, as was discussed in court. "You have to imagine, I killed a mother."

The accused had been admitted as an inpatient in a psychiatric hospital because he had been struggling with a mental disorder combined with a pronounced substance addiction for some time. Since he was seven or eight years old, he had been conspicuous for constantly feigning headaches to avoid going to school. At the age of twelve, he began self-harming. It was only three years ago that he was diagnosed for the first time with borderline personality disorder. Several stays in psychiatric hospital wards followed.

On the day of the crime, he had been granted leave from 12:00 to 17:00. He did not return from this leave. Instead, he met with the later 47-year-old victim, whom he had met in 2022 in a psychiatric ward where both were being treated.

Apartment in Vienna-Leopoldstadt Rented for Sex Meeting

Shortly before the act, the two began a sexual relationship. To be able to meet, the 47-year-old rented an apartment in the Green Prater under her name on February 18. "What was the purpose of the meeting," asked the chairman of the jury, Andreas Hautz. "Sex and drugs," the 21-year-old replied soberly. In the blood of both, besides medication, amphetamine and cocaine were later found. After consuming them, he had "a blackout." "I only remember fragments." There was an argument; he no longer knows what it was about. Previously, they argued because the woman wanted a relationship with the significantly younger man. "I couldn't imagine that at that age," said the accused. "But I really don't know. Someone is dead, and there was no compelling reason for the action," he said about the argument on the day of the crime.

Tourist Couple Called the Police: Video Implicates 21-Year-Old

A couple from Romania, who had rented an apartment opposite, heard the woman's cries for help. When the tourists came out of their apartment, the then 20-year-old was beating the woman. The Romanian shouted loudly "Stop, Stop," but the accused dragged the woman back into the premises by her feet, then loud banging noises followed. The Romanians called the police. The tourists had even made a video of the incidents, which was shown during the trial.

When police officers arrived at the apartment complex, it was too late for the 47-year-old. She had suffered a severe facial skull trauma, which she did not survive. The 20-year-old at the time of the crime was arrested without resistance.

Severe Drug Abuse from Age 17

According to a psychiatric report by Peter Hofmann, the 21-year-old was accountable at the time of the crime but acted under the significant influence of a severe and persistent mental disorder when he beat his girlfriend. Since he was 17 years old, his drug abuse had been severe. "He injected himself with all sorts of things," said Hofmann. And even though he had already suffered cardiac arrest due to consumption, he continued.

Due to his severe personality disorder and truly severe addiction, Hofmann gave the young man a so-called dual diagnosis. These people have a relatively high relapse rate. "The chance that he stays clean is less than five percent," said the expert. The combination of drugs and the mental illness was "the driving force" for the outbreak of violence, according to the expert. Because there is still a risk of serious crimes, all conditions for additional admission to a forensic-therapeutic center are met.

(APA/Red)

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