Trial in Feldkirch

Oberland couple regularly hunted magpies

The pensioners were in court yesterday.(Bild: Chantall Dorn, Krone KREATIV)

An Oberländer man (54) and his partner (70) have been sentenced to partial fines for attempted cruelty to animals

The first defendant is an artist, his partner a wealthy pensioner. Together they led a tranquil existence in the house of the second defendant in Oberland. Until recently. A former friend of the house had filed a complaint because the couple had repeatedly shot magpies in the past. "They took turns aiming at the birds and were always happy when they got another one."

Only shot at magpies once
The two defendants deny this. The wealthy pensioner claims that she only used the small-caliber rifle placed in the living room (!) once and shot at a magpie "because I have suffered from insomnia since the death of my husband and felt disturbed by the noise of the birds".

When Judge Christoph Stadler asked the main witness why he had only reported the matter years later, he replied that he had been employed by the first defendant for a long time and was therefore dependent on him.

Lawyer Christoph Huber wants to appeal against the verdict. The fine for the woman in particular is not from bad parents.(Bild: Chantall Dorn)

In the end, the court believes the witness. The council finds both defendants guilty as charged and imposes partial fines. Due to his low income, the first defendant gets off with a fine of 750 euros. Half on probation.

The wealthy partner has to dig deeper into her pockets. The council assesses her fine at 36,000 euros, half of which is also conditional. Her defense lawyer has already announced an appeal. As has the public prosecutor.