Before the trial begins

Sushi hostess: “It ruined my life”

To this day, the landlady can only walk on crutches.(Bild: Dostal Harald)

A 42-year-old restaurateur from Linz is said to have been run over by a teenage couple because they didn't want to pay the bill. Next week, the victim, who was rammed in front of her own Asian restaurant, will be in court as a witness. The reunion with the alleged perpetrators worries the woman.

"I'm only 42 years old and may now have to live with pain forever. I still can't walk normally and can't sit for long periods of time, I have to take medication every day," Lihua C. told "Krone" one day after she was discharged from hospital following a follow-up operation.

Well-known teenage duo
More than six months later, the sushi hostess is still suffering from what happened to her on August 8th last year: a young couple from Graz - a 16-year-old at the time and her boyfriend (17), both known to the authorities - allegedly ran over the restaurateur with a white SUV in front of her Asian restaurant in Linz after the teenage duo had fled the restaurant without paying the bill. It was about 50 euros.

The young couple who allegedly ran over Lihua C. (42) in Linz were caught in Croatia after a short escape(Bild: Dostal Harald, Krone KREATIV)

Unable to work
Since then, the 42-year-old has been unable to work, although she would like to support her husband in the restaurant: "He works a lot."

Attempted murder
On Tuesday, the young people stand trial in Graz. The prosecution accuses them of attempted murder, but the defendants deny this and say they did not see the victim as they drove off.

Mixed feelings
Lihua C. will also be sitting in the courtroom - as a witness. "It ruined my life," she says about the crime. "I didn't really want to see people anymore." Nevertheless, she has mixed feelings and says that her heart is divided because: "They are still children. They also ruined their lives."