Klagenfurt trial – attempted murder: 18 years in prison for husband

Two years before the bloody crime, the woman had sought help from her abusive husband, whom she had been forced to marry in Afghanistan 22 years ago. But since she ultimately refused to testify, nothing happened. Last September, the situation escalated completely: When the 37-year-old came home from women’s counseling and again spoke of divorce, the mason grabbed the carpet knife.

Recorder recorded act
A recording device on which the crime was recorded was found in the couple’s apartment. The suspect would have set it up weeks earlier to keep an eye on his wife. On the recording, the woman’s cries for help and the 41-year-old’s statement: “Now I won’t let you live anymore.” The suspect then attempted suicide. He testified in court that he wanted to die at the time. The couple’s child heard the act, so the suspect asked him to get the neighbors because “dad feels bad”.

The defendant pleaded guilty before a jury chaired by Judge Dietmar Wasserteurer. He admitted to inflicting the injuries on his wife, but it was not planned in advance – it was “out of emotion”.

Visible scars and psychological problems
According to an expert report, the woman has suffered from sensory disturbances on her hands, visible scars and psychological problems since the crime. The suspect has been sentenced to an unconditional prison sentence of 18 years and must also pay partial compensation of 8,000 euros.