Shot and left lying: that’s what happened to a 37-year-old in 2008 who eventually bled to death near Vienna’s Danube Canal. 15 years later, the accused gunman is now being tried for murder. There is no clear evidence, the 47-year-old can go home.
It’s been 15 years since the bloody crime landed the 47-year-old in the dock at the Vienna Regional Court. On December 19, 2008, a homeless man was shot in the evening hours – he was found kneeling in front of a park bench near the Reichsbrücke in Vienna-Donaustadt. There was no sign of a murder weapon or even a shooter.
“Indications provide a clear picture”
“The trial is extraordinary in some respects,” begins the prosecutor who files murder charges against the Algerian. The man allegedly shot the 38-year-old victim in the thigh years ago, after which he bled to death. But: “This clear evidence is not there,” he has to admit in the trial, “even though the murder weapon has not been found, there are no eyewitnesses and there are no DNA traces, the evidence still paints a clear picture.”
How did the trail end up with the now suspect? It was known within the Algerian community in Vienna that the 47-year-old and the homeless man had an argument. “He repeatedly said he would teach the victim a lesson he would never forget,” the prosecutor said, echoing statements from anonymous whistleblowers.
Defense sees holes in the chain of evidence
And the analysis of the murdered person’s calling list would also fit the picture: on December 19, fifteen years ago, the 37-year-old called the Algerian nine times and an appointment was made. The victim’s best friend, who spoke to him on the phone after he was fatally shot in the thigh, also knew this.
What the prosecutor sees as a “closely interwoven chain of evidence,” the lawyer notes: “There is no clear evidence in the proceedings.” His client is innocent and will answer for himself at trial. There is no evidence, apart from the statements of whistleblowers who do not have to be truthful and the incriminating account of the victim’s best friend – who did not even call the police after knowing that the 37-year-old had been seriously injured.
However, the “tightly interwoven chain of evidence” did not convince any of the jurors. They unanimously acquitted the Algerian of all charges. The acquittal is final and the public prosecutor will not appeal.
The suspected Algerian went into hiding in Sweden
Why is the trial taking place almost exactly 15 years later? After the suspicious act, the 47-year-old went into hiding. He lived in Spain and then in Sweden. Where he was eventually extradited to Austria due to a conviction for theft and fraud.
He only left the country because he was not treated well and was sentenced to prison several times for theft. Not because he was running from the police. But he only stole to have something to eat.
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.
