The victim was awarded 10,000 euros in compensation for pain and suffering. The verdict is already legally binding.

With or Without a Machete?

In the reasoning for the verdict, the presiding judge emphasized that it could not be determined that a machete in the possession of the accused was used in the act. "Someone would have seen the huge knife. Therefore, in doubt, it was assumed that no machete was involved." Both the prosecutor and defense attorney Andreas Reichenbach accepted the verdict.

The accused, who is from Syria, claimed that he had an argument with the later victim because the latter had approached him about drugs, hugged him, and allegedly wanted to kiss him. Out of fear, he stabbed - but with a pocket knife.

Meeting at Schwedenplatz

The two men met on the night of August 25, 2024, at Schwedenplatz. The 21-year-old had previously bought drugs from the older man several times and approached him again about cannabis. The fact that this happened at quite a loud volume in a very busy place angered the 26-year-old. An argument ensued, and the Syrian initially slapped the younger man. Then he allegedly went to his moped parked nearby "and struck the 21-year-old with a machete, a machete-like object, or a sharp knife," according to the prosecutor.

Two blows hit the victim on the chest and right forearm, resulting in a sharp-edged, gaping wound reaching to the bone. The flexor muscles of the forearm were severed. On the left side of the chest, the blade inflicted a five-centimeter-long cut wound on the 21-year-old.

"Arm Like Paralyzed"

The victim initially did not realize that a weapon was involved when he was hit. It was only when he saw the amount of blood that he became aware of the gravity of what had just happened. "It looked like my hand was going to fall off," the 21-year-old described as a witness to a jury. When asked how he was doing now, the man replied: "This arm is like paralyzed. I can't lift a glass, I can't wash my head." He could no longer fully extend the ring finger and little finger of his right hand. The limited function of his hand was "very painful. I can't endure it."

The accused fled after the act. He could only be tracked down and arrested at the beginning of September. During a house search conducted on September 6, a 60-centimeter-long machete hanging on the wall was found in his apartment and secured. The DNA of the 21-year-old could not be detected on it. The police officers noted that the 40-centimeter blade appeared exceptionally "clean." It may have been cleaned.

"Not in His Right Mind"

The accused assured that the confiscated machete was not the weapon used in the crime. This - an allegedly eight to ten centimeter long pocket knife, which he used for cutting fruit, he had thrown into the Danube while fleeing. "Out of fear," the 26-year-old stated. The presiding judge then projected two photos onto the wall, showing the fresh injuries at the time of the 21-year-old's hospital admission. The accused's statements about the weapon seemed bold in light of these images.

"He attacked me. As a result, there was a reaction on my part," the accused said about the course of events. The 21-year-old had "hugged and tried to kiss him" after asking for drugs: "He was not in his right mind. Around his mouth, it was white." Therefore, he slapped him. Subsequently, the younger man began to wrestle with him and knocked him to the ground: "In the situation, I was so annoyed that I pulled out a knife. I wanted to make him scared and go away." He eventually stabbed twice.

(APA/Red)

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