Two murders in Bosnia?

Lower Austria: movie-like escape plan with rope failed

The escape plan from St. Pölten prison failed.(Bild: P Huber Krone KREATIV,)

In August, an 18-year-old was asked by his mother's ex to help him break out of St. Pölten prison. The plan only just failed. The boy claims not to have known why the 38-year-old was in prison. The judge in Vienna Landl: "You almost helped someone accused of two murders to escape."  

Paragraph 300 is not often heard in the Wiener Landl. It reads "liberation of prisoners" and is punishable by up to two years in prison. On Tuesday, an 18-year-old was charged with this, among other things, in courtroom 16. He wanted to free a 38-year-old Bosnian man, his mother's ex, from St. Pölten prison. Fortunately, it was only an attempt. The unusual plan failed at the last second.

My client threw a rope over the prison wall, which was tied to his car. Then he drove off.

Der Verteidiger des 18-Jährigen, Noah McElheney.

"My client threw a rope over the prison wall that was tied to his car. Then he drove off," explained the prosecutor. "Mr. B. actually made it onto the wall, but then the rope broke." The 18-year-old, who only has a moped license, was at the wheel. 

"I was stupid and naive"
The escape attempt took place in August 2023. "He called me from prison. And suggested I do this number. I was stupid and naive," the 18-year-old admits during the trial. "I hoped that there would be money in it for me."

Now judge Alexandra Skrdla drops the bombshell. "Do you know why Mr. B. was in prison in St. Pölten?" The young defendant shrugs his shoulders. "He's to be extradited to Bosnia - he's accused of two counts of murder!" says Ms. Rat. "You almost helped someone accused of double murder to escape."

He called me and suggested I do this number. I was stupid and naive.

Der Fluchthelfer im Prozess im Wiener Landl.

"My client has confessed. To the unusual attempt to help him escape from prison and to the fraud," says lawyer Noah McElheney, the 18-year-old's defense attorney in the trial at the Vienna Regional Court. The escape helper is on trial there together with the prisoner he wanted to free. And with four other boys. The case concerns several commercial fraud offenses involving luxury cars.

Leased luxury cars sold on
Here too, the 38-year-old and his ex-stepson worked together. Mr. B. is considered the alleged mastermind. With the help of the young Viennese co-defendants, the 38-year-old leased high-priced cars. As soon as the boys had signed the loan agreements, for which they presented forged payslips, the Bosnian is said to have simply resold the expensive BMWs and Audis. Regardless of the fact that they actually belonged to the bank. 

The 38-year-old suspected double murderer has not confessed to the charges. He is now awaiting extradition to Bosnia in the well-secured Stein prison. The trial against the main defendant was adjourned until May. His helper received 15 months, five of which were fixed.