Was it self-defense or attempted murder? This question will be clarified on Tuesday at the Klagenfurt Regional Court. In the harbor lies an innkeeper from St. Kanzian am Klopeiner See, who seriously injured a guest with a knife last August.
The 61-year-old suspect seriously injured a guest with an eight-inch butcher knife (we reported). While the 61-year-old and his lawyer speak of self-defense, the prosecutor clearly sees attempted murder. But how did it happen?
Butcher’s knife rammed into the stomach
A dispute between the host family and a Slovenian holiday family got so out of hand that the suspect grabbed a knife and stabbed the 35-year-old father. “The defendant rammed the eight-inch butcher knife into his victim’s abdomen, injuring the liver and abdominal artery,” the prosecutor said in the indictment.
Defense speaks of self-defense
While the prosecution assumes attempted murder, the defense clearly sees self-defense. “My client just wanted to save his son’s life. After all, the 35-year-old is a real fighting machine and had his son in a stranglehold,” lawyer Hans Gradischnig defended his client’s actions.
Suspect under cross-examination
In front of numerous trial visitors and the jury, the three jurors Claudia Bandion-Ortner and Gernot Kugi, chaired by Dietmar Wassertheurer, questioned the 61-year-old Bosnian native. Numerous questions about the course of events had to be clarified. “I only feared for my son’s life,” the suspect claimed. Defender Gradischnig saw a clear bias in the questioning.
Guests were terrified of casualties
Witnesses already described during the interrogation that the 35-year-old victim was a real powerhouse. This was also confirmed by a witness in court: “I was terrified of the man. He grabbed the waiter by the neck with one hand and lifted him up. In the other hand he was holding a baby.”
Life imprisonment is possible
If the jury meets with the prosecution, the 61-year-old defendant could face life in prison. In self-defense, the sentence would be much more lenient. “There could even be an acquittal,” says Gradischnig on the sidelines of the trial.
This article is constantly updated.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
