Trial over drowning in the New Danube: Witness describes course of events at the Vienna Regional Court

Statement of the partner

On Wednesday, a 46-year-old witness testified in court, who by her own account was in a relationship with one of the two defendants. The woman reported that she had not noticed how the two Polish men beat the Romanian man. She found the situation "sehr belastend" (very distressing) and described that the 44-year-old defendant had never appeared aggressive to her: "Ich habe ihn nie aggressiv erlebt."

According to her account, the group and the victim had previously spent several nights together on the Danube Island. The defendants had drunk vodka on the evening before the crime and celebrated with the woman at her sleeping place before the later victim arrived. The 37-year-old had already been known to the group because he had previously ridden his bicycle past the sleeping places several times and had brought the homeless people a Gugelhupf (a Bundt cake), among other things.

Forensic findings on the cause of death

A forensic medical expert opinion came to the conclusion, according to the court, that the man died "eindeutig" (clearly) by drowning. A total of 14 laceration-contusion wounds were found on the body in the area of the head and skull. In addition, the examination revealed bone fractures including a broken nasal bone.

According to the expert opinion, the drowning process lasted several minutes. The victim was probably already unconscious when he went under. The findings also support the thesis that the 37-year-old would have survived the injuries inflicted on him if he had received medical treatment in time.

On Wednesday, the presiding judge announced further witness statements and expert opinions. The trial is being continued at the Vienna Regional Court; a verdict has not yet been reached. The proceedings were broadcast via the TV livestream of the channel OE24.

Background: Danube Island as a living space

According to the indictment, the crime took place near the Nordbrücke, a central Vienna crossing of the Danube. From there, the small group is said to have dragged the unconscious man via a towpath – the path kept clear for shipping along the New Danube – to the water. The exact background of the violence against the 37-year-old is still the subject of taking evidence.

With the statement of the 46-year-old, a close confidante of one of the defendants took the stand as a witness for the first time. Her account, that she did not see the blows, contradicts the line taken so far by the public prosecutor's office, which accuses the two men of acting jointly. Both defendants have so far remained silent about the charges.

Further course of the proceedings

The case throws a spotlight on the living conditions of homeless people in Vienna. Several of those involved said they regularly slept in the area of the Danube Island, a popular local recreation area that is also used at night as an informal sleeping place. Social organizations and street work facilities have been pointing out for years that this group is particularly vulnerable.

According to the court's assessment, the hearing at the Vienna Regional Court is likely to extend over several more hearing days. In addition to the question of whether the defendants planned and carried out the killing together, the role played by the 46-year-old witness prior to the crime will also have to be clarified. The case is considered one of the most sensational violence trials of the current year in Vienna.