"Mentally ill"

Triple murder: Afghan man’s lawyer comes forward

(Bild: Klemens Groh)

The 27-year-old man who has been in custody for just under a week for the murder of three women in a brothel in Vienna-Brigittenau is "not particularly religious", but rather "a mentally ill person". This was said by the accused's lawyer, Philipp Springer.

The 27-year-old originally refused to be represented by a lawyer. He has been in custody since the triple murder of Asian women in a brothel. He was actually supposed to have been provided with a legal aid lawyer, but the Viennese lawyer has since taken over the mandate.

He is convinced that the knife was wielded by magic and sorcery.

Philipp Springer, Anwalt des Tatverdächtigen

The lawyer Philipp Springer from the Viennese law firm Lessiak & Partner, who has now been entrusted with the defense of the Afghan asylum seeker, has not yet met his client in person. During a first attempt last Friday, the 27-year-old refused to leave his cell, Springer said on Monday. The man had previously "basically confessed" to the investigators.

(Bild: Klemens Groh)

Psychiatric examination for the first time
The accused was also psychiatrically examined for the first time on Friday, said Springer. The public prosecutor's office had immediately initiated the obtaining of a corresponding expert opinion in order to clarify a possible lack of sanity or other grounds for ruling out guilt.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Afghan living in a "delusional world"
The lawyer described the accused as a "sick person who lives in a delusional world in which there is magic". He confirmed that the 27-year-old had also made statements during his police interrogation according to which he had read the Koran and had been in a mosque before the devastating knife attack on the three Asian women, as the media had already reported.

However, Springer considers these "Muslim motives" put forward by the man to be "elements of his delusional world", as he believes his client is not particularly devout. He also believes in "witches". "He is convinced that the knife was wielded by magic and sorcery," said Springer.