Because of beer – 35-year-old threatened to set fire to gas station

Just a few weeks ago, the suspect (35) was homeless and an alcoholic. He stood before the abyss. However, during Tuesday’s trial in the regional court of Salzburg, he made a decent and good impression – even Judge Günther Nocker, who was surprised, acknowledged this. “I have been abstinent for three weeks and now have a permanent residence,” said the 35-year-old. “I want to break up with my old friends.”

Second chance for a new beginning
The prosecutor has charged him with several crimes: according to these, he threatened to set fire to a gas station in Salzburg in mid-October 2021. For this he wanted to fill a Jägermeister bottle with fuel. All because he couldn’t get beer then. At the end of February 2022, the following incident followed: in the emergency room of the university hospital, he tried to bite two nurses. “They wanted to chain me up, so I fought back. I was not insured at the time and wanted to save on hospital costs,” admits the man with two previous convictions.

He had also defended himself against the police at 2.5 per thousand in the meantime. “It’s clear to me that that wasn’t right.” And he also admitted the third charge, the attempted theft of a coat, despite holes in his memory. The judge asked what had happened in the man’s life. “Two years ago I ended up on the street. I lost my girlfriend, my job and my apartment.” He sought refuge in the glass. But now he has given up alcohol and is going to retire.

And for that he must be given another chance, the judge decided. The non-final verdict: nine months of probation.