Crime reconstruction in Kottingbrunn: Suspect must reenact alleged headshot murder of 28-year-old

According to the accused's then-lawyer, Manfred Arbacher-Stöger, the Styrian and the 28-year-old had met via Facebook and arranged to meet in person after some time. The available factual material contains no detailed information about the specific circumstances of this initial contact or about the relationship between the two before the crime.

The crime itself attracted nationwide attention because Astrid Wagner was killed by several headshots. The accused, who according to reports owned several weapons as a sport shooter, was arrested a few days after the crime. He has been in pre-trial detention ever since.

Course of the reconstruction

During the Wednesday reconstruction, investigators, forensic experts, and a judge accompany the procedure at the alleged crime scene. The accused must reenact the movements and actions that the indictment charges him with. The results will feed into the ballistic expert report and the further taking of evidence.

Astrid Wagner was only 28 years old when she was killed in Kottingbrunn. The municipality in the district of Baden is located in Lower Austria, south of Vienna. The available facts provide no further details about her life, her profession, or her plans at the time of the crime.

Support services for those affected by violence

The proceedings shed light on a societal problem that has been debated in Austria for years: violence against women. According to official sources, those affected in Austria can find help, among others, at the Women's Helpline (0800-222-555, frauenhelpline.at), the Women's Shelter Emergency Hotline (057722), the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (aoef.at), and the Violence Protection Centers (0800/700-217). In acute situations, the police emergency number 133 can be reached.

For the relatives and friends of Astrid Wagner, the crime reconstruction is an additional burden. The available material contains no information about their further public appearance or possible statements. Nor is anything known about the state of health or current condition of the accused following the announcement of the date.

Outlook on the trial

At trial, experts will have their say to evaluate the reconstruction and the ballistic expert report. Should the court convict the accused, he faces life imprisonment for murder. When the verdict will be handed down is currently unclear; likewise, whether the accused continues to be defended by Manfred Arbacher-Stöger or whether he has since obtained different legal counsel.

The available material contains no confirmed information about the exact number of shots fired, the precise time of the crime, or a possible motive on the part of the accused. These questions are to be clarified through the reconstruction and further witness statements.