Extreme security measures, countless reporters and TV cameras and a large influx of gossip. The first trial related to the Linz Halloween riots took place in Linz on Thursday – it ended with a final conviction.
Extra security at the end and strict checks at the regional court in Linz. Anyone who wanted to go to the regional court in Linz around 1 p.m. on Thursday was searched. Cell phones had to be handed in. The reason for the excitement: after the Halloween riots in Linz, the first suspect was brought to justice. A 22-year-old Syrian was in court.
‘Thought the police just wanted to play’
“He is said to have played a leading role in the Halloween night by verbally and with hand gestures asking numerous participants to take action against the police,” says spokesman for the Linz regional court, Walter Eichinger. But in court, the young man initially gave the lamb of innocence. He was only there at night as an observer and thought the police “just wanted to play”.
Pyrotechnic objects thrown
Prosecutors had charged him with leading a group hurling fireworks — including category 3 and 4 fireworks — at police officers. According to the public prosecutor, he himself threw stones and fireworks at officials. It was “almost a miracle” that there were no serious injuries on Halloween night, the prosecutor said.
“Dumb Responsibility”
There was no question to him that the Syrian had been at the crime scene, incited the crowd and asked them to throw stones at the police officers. The defendant’s accountability for thinking it was all just a game was the “stupidest” he had ever heard, prosecutors said.
The judge did not believe the accused
“You were there to the bitter end,” the judge told him. He didn’t want to believe he justified not hearing about the riots. The judge said that when police officers try to disrupt a meeting and the suspect’s personal details are recorded, they cannot think it is a peaceful action.
Let insight
After a brief pause in negotiations, the refugee, whose asylum procedure is still ongoing, said: “I take full responsibility.” In the late afternoon, the lay judges delivered a – already final – verdict: the 22-year-old was sentenced to one and a half years in prison, six months of which were unconditionally served.
It is clearly proven that the suspect threw fireworks. Because of the “social upheaval value” a lower sentence (maximum: three years) was not possible, the judge justified the partly suspended prison sentence of one and a half years. The time in pre-trial detention is taken into account, so that he can apply for early release on March 19.
A total of 129 people were reported on Halloween night. Proceedings were initiated against 46 people to have their protection status withdrawn.
Source: Krone
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