“Corona does not exist” – Tannenhof trial: One sentence, four acquittals

In fact, the trial surrounding the Tannenheut nursing home in St. Lorenzen in the Mürztal, which was heavily plagued by Corona, ended on Wednesday at the regional court Leoben (Stemk.). According to the criminal complaint, the many infections and deaths – 18 residents died as a result of an infection, eleven of which were directly related to the disease – could have been prevented with an appropriate hygiene concept. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, all prevention concepts were missing, there was no cooperation with the hygiene specialist sent by the State of Styria and no relevant training of staff was provided.

Cursing lawyer with political speech
However, during the trial, a lawyer caused a commotion in the courtroom. Some of the evidence he presented was not particularly in favor of his client, as it degenerated into a personal political speech against the Austrian media, the government and individual politicians. His client also seemed to disagree with the legal representative’s statements.

The meaning of the lawyer: Corona does not exist. The pandemic also never happened. Politicians have lied to everyone. And PCR tests say nothing about an infection. What does he think the residents died of? “This was due to the illegal separation of the residents by the authorities.” The psychological consequences were the cause of their deaths.

“Ivermectin for prevention”
He also asked the experts whether Ivermectin (a controversial drug against parasites in animals) had been given to residents to prevent the disease. There were grumblings in the ranks, but the judge did not allow the question. But he had even more in store: he asked as a witness the doctor who issued mask exemption certificates to a number of patients and who had already been criminally convicted for this.

He read dozens of pages of written documents, and even the judge found his statements extremely long. But she also had no choice but to listen carefully to his explanation and take notes.

Finally the time had come and prosecutor Viktoria Steinecker could begin her closing argument. She spoke of an emotional event for everyone involved. However, she wanted to make it clear: “This is not a witch hunt. It doesn’t matter to the media whether someone is charged or not. Anyone who thinks that clearly misunderstands the task of the Public Prosecution Service and the police.” According to her, it was strange that the statements made to the police suddenly differed greatly from the statements made in court; This even applies to some extent to the tax returns.

Lawyer detects capital crimes
“After fourteen months of negotiations, we have grown closer. Sometimes something has been communicated to us through the media,” said the lawyer for the director and his son, taking up the plea. He is convinced that the report was not drawn up empty artis and has repeatedly criticized the statements of the two experts, which repeatedly gave rise to contradictions. Those responsible for the nursing home were abandoned by the authorities. Nevertheless, he blames the media for the allegations, which he says scandalized the military’s deployment to the nursing home. The police also got fed up: what happened during the investigation looked like a capital crime. His clients must be acquitted.

Attorney Karin Prutsch-Lang represented the nursing service management: “The nursing home was very popular until the Covid period. There were many multimorbid patients there, the home was run in an exemplary, family-like manner.” Even in Corona times, the employees, of whom there were far too few, did everything for the residents. Her client’s hands were tied and she could not be blamed for anything.

Four acquittals, one conviction
Shortly after 5 p.m. the time has come: judge Astrid Rauchwald announces: A former nurse service manager is sentenced to a fine of 12,300 euros. The reason: he ordered that the entire nursing home be considered infected and that no distinction should be made between sick residents and that no more protective suits had to be changed. Devastating for Mrs. Rat: “That just doesn’t work! You were part of the crisis team and knew what you were doing.” The others were acquitted of the charges. Not legally binding!