Vienna’s public prosecutor’s office has charged the attempted murder of a reckless speeder who evaded a police check on December 10 last year and led police on a kilometer-long chase through the city. The 34-year-old, who is in custody, denies alleged intent to murder.
“This is not attempted murder. This is coercion at best,” his lawyer Rudolf Mayer said on Friday afternoon. The Serbian-born man does not have a driver’s license and the Jaguar he was driving was not registered for traffic. The 34-year-old was also under the influence of cannabis when officials tried to subject him to a routine check at the Gaudenzdorfer Belt. Instead of stopping, the man pressed the accelerator.
Victim with broken bones in hospital
While fleeing from police, the Jaguar driver ignored several red lights. He knocked down a cyclist and crashed into a car coming towards him, leaving the passenger in the other car as seriously injured as the 46-year-old cyclist. Both ended up in hospital with broken bones.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, there was attempted murder because, according to the Public Prosecution Service, the 34-year-old drove towards two police officers who stood in his way with their service weapons drawn. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the officers were only able to save themselves at the last minute by jumping out of the way. From the lawyer’s point of view, there was no danger to the lives of those affected: “These are trained officers and not invalids. They know what to do in such a situation.”
Some questions remain unanswered for Mayer
It’s also unclear if and when the suspect actually saw the officers and whether he started braking when he saw them, Mayer said. “No report from a traffic expert was obtained during the investigation,” the lawyer complained.
Lawyer asks for expert advice
It is not clear at what speed the defendant was driving: “I have therefore requested that a motor vehicle expert be engaged and an expert report be obtained.” This should be reimbursed as part of the main hearing – there is no date for this yet.
Source: Krone
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