Murder trial in Vienna: 57-year-old stabbed 49-year-old to death after argument about the Balkan wars

The woman, testifying as a witness, described the mood as initially exuberant until the conflict suddenly escalated. She said she slammed the tabletop and threatened to call emergency services as the men grew increasingly louder. Verbatim: 'slammed the tabletop'. Eventually, the 49-year-old became physically aggressive and pushed her to the floor, according to the indictment.

The night of the crime in Leopoldstadt

The defendant then took a kitchen knife with a blade roughly 25 centimeters long from a drawer and stabbed the victim twice in the back. One of the two stab wounds pierced the victim's heart. The 49-year-old died at the scene.

In court, the 57-year-old denied having intended to kill the victim. He had lost control, he said: 'Es ist explodiert in mir.' Asked about his motive, he stated that he had wanted to stab the victim 'ins Fettgewebe in der Seite'. 'Ich weiß, ich habe den Mann getötet. Das wollte ich nicht. Ich wollte ihn nur verletzen,' he declared.

Defendant's statement

According to the indictment, the victim had previously threatened him with the words 'Halt die Papp'n, sonst passiert dir dasselbe wie ihr.' When the victim attacked the woman, the defendant said he shouted 'Was machst du? Bist du deppert?'

Defense attorney Zaid Rauf pointed to his client's background: He had fought for several years during the Yugoslav war. A psychiatric expert opinion obtained by the prosecution nevertheless concluded that, despite a tolerance to alcohol, the defendant was fully criminally responsible at the time of the offense. His blood alcohol level at the time was 2.2 per mille.

Defense and expert opinion

In favor of his client, Rauf argued that the defendant had no prior criminal record, had himself notified police and emergency services, had waited for his arrest in the inner courtyard, and had supported the forensic investigation.

The 47-year-old tenant of the apartment is, according to the indictment, considered a Serbian nationalist, while the defendant is Croatian and the victim a Bosnian Croat. Which specific remarks ultimately triggered the argument is the subject of the ongoing evidentiary proceedings.

Background: Aftermath of the Balkan conflict

The trial is being continued at the Vienna Regional Court. A verdict had not yet been handed down at the time of reporting.

The killing caused a stir in Vienna-Leopoldstadt because it made the long shadow of the Balkan wars visible in the present day of the Austrian capital. The extent to which traumatic war experiences of those involved played a role will also need to be clarified further in the proceedings.