The bloody act took place a year ago, and now the murder trial is taking place: a 64-year-old killed an opponent with a knife in Graz. In court he stuck to his version of self-defense and felt no further guilt.
The love triangle that led to the death of a 34-year-old was complicated: In 2020, the defendant met a young woman who was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was being abused by her boyfriend at the time.
Out of pity, he took her in and a friendship developed. At some point a sexual relationship developed; the 64-year-old taxi driver described the status as ‘friendship plus’ and there was never any real relationship.
Fatal love triangle
The woman met a young man in therapy who soon moved in with her. “She always complained that he hit her,” the suspect said. The relationship between him and the woman continued even though it was clear to him that she was with the younger man.
In September 2022, the suspect tipped off the police – he previously worked as an interpreter for the authority – that the young man was expecting a drug delivery. Shortly afterwards, a fatal argument broke out after the 64-year-old saw the two together again on the street.
“I don’t understand his English”
The suspect stopped his car at that point and a loud argument ensued, but he drove the couple home anyway. “Why did you go into the apartment?” judge Julia Riffel wanted to know. “I had that feeling too,” was the explanation. He didn’t understand what the younger man was saying to him because “I don’t understand his English.” He described the atmosphere as ‘calm’.
However, the woman testified that “the two were arguing at full speed.” “That is not true,” said the suspect. He just said the apartment “looks like a dump.” The other then stood up and strangled him with one hand and put him in a headlock.
Cross the severed carotid artery
“He pressed very hard, his fingers felt like lead in my neck.” He was “panicking” and grabbed the knife and stabbed it. “I don’t know how that happened,” he said. The stab severed the carotid artery and “the victim died on the spot within a few minutes,” prosecutor Katharina Doppelhofer said.
The first witness heard was the woman over whom the argument had broken out and who was present at the time of the crime. “He was just there for me, but it wasn’t real love,” she said, describing her relationship with the defendant. “He eventually wanted to marry me and said I would be covered.”
The younger man continued to hit his wife
But she didn’t want that, preferring to stay with the younger man even though he continued to hit her: “I just couldn’t say no to him,” she told the court. During that time, the 64-year-old constantly spied on her and repeatedly appeared at her apartment.
The argument that preceded the crime was violent, but not long lasting. According to her, the suspect’s stab was “a reflex”. ‘I don’t think he wanted to kill him. “After all, he was a bastard, but he didn’t want to kill him,” the woman was convinced.
The 64-year-old had to appear in court this spring for violating self-defense. But the judge ruled of incompetence, so the murder trial will now take place on Wednesday. If all necessary witnesses appear, a verdict could be reached in the evening.
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.
