Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Attempted Murder in Vienna Shared Housing

Defense attorney Sebastian Lesigang argued his client acted in self-defense after the intoxicated victim (with 2.0‰ blood alcohol) broke down their shared door. 'This was never attempted murder,' Lesigang stated during proceedings, claiming his client felt 'massively threatened.'

The Violent Encounter

The prosecution countered this narrative, presenting evidence they said disproved the self-defense claim. 'Traces don't lie, people do,' remarked the prosecutor, alleging the defendant had tampered with the door to support his version of events.

During the altercation, the defendant reportedly made anti-Semitic remarks after learning the victim had lost eight family members in Auschwitz. Witnesses described him calling the victim a 'schwule Judensau' (gay Jewish pig) during the argument.

The defendant's troubled background was detailed in court, including a difficult childhood marked by bullying and an 'icy' family climate. He had previously lost his savings in a cryptocurrency scheme and experienced homelessness before entering the supervised housing.

Background of the Defendant

With an IQ measured at 129, the defendant was described as intelligent but socially isolated. Psychiatric experts noted his history included setting fire to his own apartment in Germany while intoxicated, resulting in prior convictions.

The victim, who survived the attack, was later ejected from the housing facility by the Salvation Army and returned to homelessness. He testified via video link from a withdrawal clinic during the trial.

After two days of deliberation, the jury unanimously rejected the self-defense argument, agreeing with prosecutors that the evidence supported an attempted murder conviction under Austrian law.

Under §21 Abs 2 of Austrian law, the court ordered the defendant's placement in a forensic-therapeutic center rather than standard incarceration due to his mental health assessment.