Attempted murder in Graz

Prisoner almost bleeds to death after attack with a shard of glass

The bloody deed took place behind the bars of Graz-Jakomini prison.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

A Romanian almost murdered a fellow inmate in Graz-Jakomini prison with the sharp shard of a broken mirror. The motive: the compatriot had mistakenly sprayed the 25-year-old's bed with water.

Three Romanians were sharing a cell in the prison at the time of the crime. Two of the prisoners (a trafficker and a stalker) were fooling around and splashed each other with water. The bed of the third Romanian - who was in custody for several thefts, some of them robberies - got wet.

Anger about the wet bed
The 25-year-old was so angry about this that it led to a wild, initially verbal argument. The angry Romanian rang the intercom in the detention room several times to report the problem.

But because a prison officer did not come straight away, the 25-year-old smashed the two mirrors in the detention room and armed himself with two triangular, pointed pieces of glass. With the shards in his hand, he approached one of the water splashers and threatened: "Come here, I'll kill you."

The trial will soon be held in the jury courtroom at Graz Regional Criminal Court

(Bild: APA/KARIN ZEHETLEITNER)

"Let's talk"
His compatriot agreed to fight, but asked the 25-year-old to put the broken glass away first. The third Romanian, who was imprisoned for the persistent persecution, intervened and tried to mediate. "Let's talk," he urged the 25-year-old.

Escaped on a bunk bed
But the man had no intention of backing down and suddenly stabbed the mediator several times in the chest, upper abdomen and neck. Despite the massive injuries, the victim managed to push a mattress between himself and the attacker. The bleeding prisoner then climbed onto the upper bunk bed, where his other compatriot had already fled.

Victim only just survived
While the 25-year-old suspect sat down impassively at the dining table, the suspected trafficker tried to staunch the bleeding wounds of the alleged stalker with a sheet. Several prison officers finally intervened and set the rescue chain in motion. The victim barely survived, but allegedly went into hiding after his release.

The trial for attempted murder is due to take place before the jury at the end of March.