Vienna Trial: 60-Year-Old Committed to Forensic Therapy After Years of Stalking a Gallery Owner

The burden had increased massively "ab Ende 2023". "Er hat unsere Galerie manchmal wochenlang regelmäßig angerufen, diese Anrufe waren extrem unangenehm und wir haben uns als Team wirklich gefürchtet", sagte die Frau. From 2024 onward, the gallery had threatened the man with police intervention and bans from the premises. "Er hat sich nicht an das Hausverbot gehalten, wir wollten ihn nicht sehen und wir wollten seine Kunst nicht sehen", sagte die Zeugin aus.

In addition to the visits, the man had sent around 50 emails to the gallery's public email address. Among other things, he had sent nude images and messages such as "Ich will mit euch allen schlafen". The witness also spoke of countless close-up photographs the man had taken of her and processed into collages, as well as pictures of her children: "Er hatte unzählige Nahaufnahmen von mir, collagiert in irgendwelchen Posen und auch Fotos von meinen Kindern."

Background of the Charges

The prosecution authority of Central Europe accused the ex-architect, who receives a disability pension, of having persistently stalked the gallery owner between 2023 and December 2025. In December 2025, he had once again appeared at the gallery, prompting police to be called. The witness reported that they had felt "ziemlich im Stich gelassen gefühlt" by the police, as the officers regretted being unable to take action.

Psychiatric Assessment and Behavior of the Defendant

The rejection by the gallery owner had apparently further intensified the man's behavior. "Je ablehnender wir waren, desto intensiver sind seine Besuche geworden", sagte die Zeugin. She had also been approached about him by strangers on the subway, which had further increased her fear. The woman described the overall situation as "sehr verstörend" and explained that visitors to the gallery had also drawn her attention to the man.

The attending psychiatric expert Peter Hofmann diagnosed the defendant with a chronic psychoaffective condition. However, the defendant vehemently rejected the doctors' recommendation for treatment. "Ich nehme die Medikamente nicht, weil ich gesund bin", sagte der 60-Jährige. He also showed himself unrepentant in court: "Ich bin nicht krank, ich habe ein ausgezeichnetes Wahrnehmungsvermögen" and "Das ist absurd" were his reactions to the diagnosis.

When Judge Christoph Bauer asked "Nehmen Sie Therapieangebote wahr?", the man replied: "Weil ich gesund bin!" He also maintained claims that strangers on the subway had passed him information about the witness. During questioning, he described his state of health with the words: "Es könnte besser gehen, aber es geht mir gut." The defendant, who was described as 61 years old at the time of the hearing, had no prior criminal record according to the court.

Verdict and Reaction of the Defendant

The jury panel's decision was made at the end of the second day of the hearing. Presiding Judge Bauer announced the commitment to a forensic-therapeutic center. As the defendant filed notices of nullity and appeal, the decision is not final. At the time of the verdict, the man was offered a rapid test for substances, which he rejected with "Ich lehne das ab!".

The convicted man's reaction immediately after the verdict was announced was violent. "Das ist ein Justizskandal, Sie haben gerade mein Leben zerstört", trotzte der Zurechnungsunfähige beim Urteil wild fluchend und nannte die Entscheidung ein "medizinisches und juristisches Fehlurteil". He complained loudly that the justice system had destroyed his life.