Verdict in trial

Attempted murder of taxi driver: “I thought I was going to die”

A 28-year-old man had to stand trial on Tuesday for attempted murder and aggravated robbery. Last year, he had seriously injured a cab driver by stabbing him several times. The verdict is not final. 

Following a brutal knife attack on a cab driver in September 2023 in Breitenfurt (Mödling district), a 28-year-old man was sentenced to 19 years in prison at Wiener Neustadt Regional Court on Tuesday. The accused is said to have seriously injured the then 49-year-old by stabbing him around 35 times. The man was found guilty of attempted murder, among other things. He was also committed to a forensic therapy center. The verdict is not final.

The question of attempted murder was answered in the affirmative by seven of the eight jurors. The defendant was also found guilty - unanimously in each case - of aggravated robbery, damage to property and an offense under the Weapons Act. The victim was awarded 14,722 euros. The attempt and the confession had a mitigating effect on the sentence. Aggravating factors were the "extremely brutal and insidious approach", said the presiding judge Birgit Borns. 

I couldn't control myself.

28-jähriger Angeklagter

Fight behind the car
The accused, who was born in Chechnya, is said to have "suddenly" stabbed the cab driver from behind with a folding knife while driving in the early hours of September 11, 2023. He had wanted to rob a cab driver, the 28-year-old described in court, had "taken out a knife and stabbed him a few times from behind", and: "I couldn't control myself."

The then 49-year-old then jumped out of the vehicle and held the door shut to prevent the attacker from getting out. The 28-year-old left the car on the other side and a fight ensued behind the car. The accused is also said to have pulled out a Stanley knife.

The driver then managed to get back into the car and drove off. The 28-year-old is said to have continued stabbing through the open window. The car then left the road and came to rest on its side in the ditch. The accused is said to have run after the driver, who is of Turkish origin, and sprayed him again with pepper spray.

The accused then stole the driver's rucksack. The victim was able to press the emergency button and was left covered in blood. "I thought I was going to die," said the man. Then he lost consciousness. The seriously injured 49-year-old was taken to a hospital in Vienna. 

The 28-year-old was arrested in Mödling two days after the crime. After being asked several times on Tuesday, he cited a lack of money as his motive.