“That was terrible” – Marchfeld massacre: 20 years in prison for piece murderer

In the sentencing, the use of a weapon and the execution of the crime are classified as aggravating. It was “terrible how this body was disfigured,” said presiding judge Christina Salzborn in her verdict.

And further: “That was horrible.” The man’s previous integrity was a mitigating factor – this circumstance probably allowed him to avoid a life sentence. The widow and brother of the murdered man received funeral compensation of 20,000 and 15,000 euros respectively.

Financial reasons
The 45-year-old was reportedly killed for financial reasons. The man allegedly lent the suspect money for a future business relationship and sold cryptocurrency and his car in return. According to the prosecutor, nothing came of the deal; the 39-year-old did not repay the loan amount to his creditor. According to the prosecutor, when the 45-year-old demanded his money, the 39-year-old grabbed a hammer and used it to smash his creditor’s skull during a meeting at his apartment.

The terrible discovery that a fisherman made on January 13 in the Marchfeld Canal in Vienna can hardly be put into words. Instead of a fish, he had a human and already severely decomposed lower leg on the fishing rod. Police divers subsequently recovered another 21 body parts, including the head, right lower leg and right foot, both shoulder blades, various parts of the thorax, various parts of the spine and some organs.

According to a forensic report, the body was dismembered “not professionally”. Therefore, the soft parts were first cut open with a knife and then separated with a saw and a hoe. Several parts of the body are probably still in the water between the Schwarzlackenau and Strebersdorf. So far both thighs, pelvis and both arms have not been found.

“Mafia-like backgrounds”
The cause of death could be determined from the skull. Lawyer Manfred Arbacher-Stöger admitted at the start of the trial last December that his client had failed. But there are “mafia-like backgrounds”. The defendant followed “instructions” from a certain Mike.

As a witness reported on the second day of the trial, the suspect also owed her money. She had left him 16,000 euros. When she wanted the money back, the man initially did not answer her calls and then pretended to be in the hospital having a kidney removed. She later received 1,000 euros. When she asked for the rest, the man “came up with new excuses”: “He claimed that the stitches were torn after his kidney surgery.”

A missing person report has been filed
A friend of the murdered man, who also knew the suspect well, said afterwards that he wanted to report the disappearance of the 45-year-old to a police station: “They didn’t take me seriously. A police officer explained to him “that in Austria you don’t just disappear.” The 45-year-old has probably gone on holiday. He therefore looked for another police station where his report was accepted.

The 45-year-old has been missing since the end of November 2023. In January, his dismembered body was found in the Marchefeld Canal.

The “Albanian mafia” was involved
After his arrest, the 39-year-old initially made a confession. This has no longer been the case lately. The defendant further claims that the “Albanian mafia” was involved. He was involved in the crime, but was forced to do so.

He wanted to start his own company with the future victim. That went wrong. The 45-year-old had embezzled drugs and flowers. To approve this, he was asked by a mafia member named “Mike” to get a hammer and nails. Then there was a first meeting in the 45-year-old’s apartment.

Two hammer blows to the head
The next day they went to his apartment again, where the mafioso explained to him that the 45-year-old had to die. “Mike” caused the first blow with the hammer, then he was forced to do the same, the suspect is responsible. He did. He had struck twice.

The 39-year-old had to answer for this on Tuesday and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The judgment is not final.