A 17-year-old stood before the jury in Graz on Wednesday for attempted murder. He is said to have stabbed another boy in the stomach with a knife in the autumn of 2023. An argument preceded the whole thing. The suspect denied intent to kill and said it was just “a memory.”
After two young people in Graz were sentenced to illegal prison terms for attempted murder on Tuesday, a day later the next 17-year-old stood before the jury for such a crime. This time it was about an incident in Feldbach in Eastern Styria.
“He wanted revenge”
The suspect was arguing with another teen. “He wanted revenge,” the prosecutor was convinced. So a few weeks after the fight he bought a knife in Graz, drove to Feldbach and looked for his opponent.
Murder weapon thrown into river
“He lured him away from his friends and took him for a walk,” the prosecutor said. Suddenly, without saying a word, he allegedly turned to the other teenager and stabbed him in the stomach with the knife. Then he ran away and threw the knife into the Raab.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries, but was able to call emergency services himself. The young man eventually collapsed near a fast food restaurant and friends and eyewitnesses came to his aid.
The suspect explained that he just wanted to stab his opponent in the thigh to teach him a lesson. “Even a stab in the thigh can be fatal,” the prosecutor emphasized.
I wanted to seriously injure, but not kill
“He denies any intention to kill,” said the lawyer, who described his client as a well-integrated, hard-working youth. He only bought the knife for self-protection. Yes, he wanted to seriously injure the other person, but not kill him, the lawyer said.
The 16-year-old told the court that the suspect had continuously insulted him at school. A few weeks before the crime, the suspect spat at him and wanted to fight him, which the two did. Ultimately, the 16-year-old walked away. “You’ll see what you get out of it,” his opponent shouted after him.
An 8-inch scar commemorates the crime
On the day of the crime, the 17-year-old came up to him and said, “We need to talk alone.” The victim thought it was about reconciliation. “Out of nowhere he suddenly turns around and stabs me.” He collapsed, initially believing it was a blow.
“Then I noticed something running down my leg.” He lost consciousness and was operated on for five hours in Graz. A scar about 20 centimeters long on his stomach commemorates the attack.
“How are you doing today?” asked Judge Kornelia Philipp. “Physically good, mentally not so good. “I still sleep very badly,” the 16-year-old replied. A verdict is not expected until Thursday as more witnesses are heard.
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.
