A 72-year-old wanted to buy special land at a flower market in the Danube city in the summer. Now the man ended up in court and risked a prison sentence of up to five years. The former restaurateur, who owns a large house and an SUV, allegedly stole a hose rack and a potted plant.
The friendly 72-year-old enters the courtroom with his lawyer. He’s smiling, but you can tell he’s nervous by his wobbly legs under the prosecution table. No wonder: the pensioner, who ran two restaurants as a successful restaurateur, risks up to five years in prison in Vienna’s Landl on Wednesday. The older gentleman apparently came at the charge of theft like a virgin to a child.
Branch manager saw suspicious couple
According to the Public Prosecution Service, he allegedly smuggled a garden hose and a potted plant past the cash register at a large garden market in the Danube city on July 26, 2023. “The branch manager saw the defendant, who was traveling with a woman, in the market. He then observed him and chased him,” the prosecutor said. When the cashier confirmed that payment had not been made, he stopped the black SUV the suspected thief was sitting in in the parking lot.
“A man in jeans and a T-shirt suddenly banged wildly on the window and shouted something like, ‘Open up, you idiot.’ “I was scared and drove away,” the suspect describes the strange situation. He just wanted to buy black soil to fill a hole his German Shepherd dug in the garden. When he was told at the market that this special land was not available, he left again.
The suspect drove away out of fear
As a witness, the branch manager is absolutely certain that it is the suspect he observed with a woman in the market. “I have no wife, only my dog,” the pensioner claims, shaking his head but still kindly. It doesn’t need a potted plant or hose reel, because it already has two hose systems – with another clip-on system. The defense attorney presents photos of it, as well as a photo of the dog.
“It’s a very funny story. There are two descriptions that differ greatly. “We have come to the conclusion that there is a mix-up,” said judge Danja Petschniker, who justified the – legally non-binding – acquittal after brief deliberation. The witness had no constant view of the couple. The 72-year-old is relieved, but would have preferred to avoid the excitement surrounding the long-term threat of a prison sentence.
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.
