Shot in the hand

Neighbor injured in New Year’s Eve shooting

In the Mostviertel region, a very special New Year's Eve firecracker fight has now ended at St. Pölten Provincial Court: The shooter (35) now has to do community service for assault.

After a "boozy idea" on New Year's Eve, a 35-year-old man was now on trial. Instead of using traditional firecrackers, the man from Mostviertel celebrated the New Year with several shots from his air rifle. From the balcony of his house on the second floor, the family man fired into the dark night under the influence of alcohol - he can still remember up to fifteen beers and several shots. More precisely, against a billboard.

A shot hit his neighbor and injured his hand. "I had a bleeding hole on my finger", the 45-year-old said in court, thinking it was an injury from a firecracker. The bullet was discovered in hospital and surgically removed.

Nobody screamed. I only found out the next day that the neighbor had been hit and injured.

Angeklagter vor Gericht in St. Pölten

The verdict is final
The 35-year-old has now been sentenced to 180 hours of community service and 1000 euros in compensation for pain and suffering for grossly negligent grievous bodily harm - the verdict is final.