Dangerous threat

The nightmare of all mothers-in-law in court

During the trial, the father of two denied making the dangerous threat.(Bild: Chantal Dorn, Krone KREATIV)

A Syrian man known to the court had to answer for domestic disputes once again at the Feldkirch Regional Court.

The court is aware that the two families do not see eye to eye. But even two relevant convictions of the 37-year-old were obviously not enough to bring the man to his senses. Because once again he has to answer for making a dangerous threat - and once again there has been a row within the "extended family".

In the current case, the victim is his ex-mother-in-law. It concerns an incident on December 10 in Dornbirn. The 65-year-old was walking to her son when the accused initially followed her in his car. Shortly afterwards, he overtakes the woman, gets out, insults her and threatens: "I will kill you and your family!" He then continues his journey. The victim presses charges. 

The defendant was lucky that public prosecutor Richard Gschwenter only considered the sentence "I'm going to kill you and your family!" to be an expression of displeasure.(Bild: Chantal Dorn)

"She's just making it up to hurt me " 
During the trial, the father of two denied the crime. "It was agreed with my ex-wife that I would see my children that afternoon. But she didn't show up." That was all. The last time he saw his ex-mother-in-law was two years ago.

It was agreed with my ex-wife that I would see my children that afternoon. But she didn't show up. But that was all.

Der Angeklagte

Although he keeps changing his statements during the interview, he stands by his assessment of his former mother-in-law's accusations: "She's just making it up to hurt me. They just don't want me to see my children." In general, the family kept putting obstacles in his way. For example, when he tried to open a store last summer. 

Verdict in favor of the prosecution
Because the 65-year-old was able to describe the car that had followed her at the time and the court found the woman's account of the crime to be conclusive, Judge Lisa Pfeifer found the ex-son-in-law guilty as charged. The final sentence: four months' suspended imprisonment and a fine of 720 euros. In addition, a conditional fine of 1,200 euros was revoked in summer 2021.