This botanical thriller caused a stir: a 19-year-old allegedly damaged the 30-year-old magnolia tree in Perg (Upper Austria) so badly that it had to be removed. On Monday, the young “tree killer” found a merciful judge in Linz.
In the summer of last year, all branches of the magnolia tree in the central square of Perg were sawn in half. The 30-year-old trunk was then so badly damaged that community workers had to remove the tree. The damage amounts to 20,000 euros. For a long time it was unclear who was behind this magnolia “murder”. In May, the police were then able to investigate a 19-year-old from the Perg district as a possible perpetrator. He would have used a folding handsaw.
The suspect confesses in court
Today the 19-year-old is before the regional court in Linz. He faces a prison sentence of up to two years. The accused first denied the crime, but then confessed in court: “I had an alcohol problem,” he confessed remorsefully, telling how he picked up the saw. “I’d like to undo it, but I can’t.”
High penalties
The 19-year-old was charged with serious damage to property – which also explains the high threat of punishment. “Minor damage to property ends up with the subdistrict court judge. The sentences there are a maximum of six months or even none at all,” said Walter Eichinger, spokesman for the regional court. “Anything above 5,000 euros in damage is serious material damage.” This also applies to the decades-old tree from Perg.
The two-year prison sentence was only the maximum sentence. The 19-year-old, who is now also completing his apprenticeship, confessed his guilt and came up with a diversionary maneuver – the verdict is not in the statement of good morals – of which: 80 hours of community service and 1000 euros in compensation.
For material damage you can go to the “Hafen” even longer: Damage of more than 300,000 euros can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.
Source: Krone
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