Court ends pre-trial detention

“Accident possible”: release after knife attack

After more than three months in custody in Puch prison, a man from Lungau was allowed to return home.(Bild: Tschepp Markus)

After more than three months in custody for a suspected knife attack, a man from Lungau (55) is allowed to return home: according to the court, an accident cannot be ruled out. The investigation continues.

A knife attack in the neck on an alcohol-soaked night in December landed a man from Lungau (55) in a prison cell. However, the Salzburg judiciary has now lifted the pre-trial detention and released the local man. "Because an accident cannot be ruled out," emphasizes defence lawyer Kurt Jelinek in an interview with "Krone".

Accused is also said to have saved lives
The lawyer had sent an application for release to the Salzburg Regional Court: In doing so, he demanded the release of his client. Justification: The bloody incident on December 2 could also have been an accident, Jelinek claimed in the application, referring to the forensic experts. According to their expert opinion, it was not clear whether it was a stabbing or cuts. In addition, the accused had probably also saved the victim's life by providing first aid. The public prosecutor's office, on the other hand, demanded a continuation of the pre-trial detention, as the crime basically posed a threat to life - and thus a possible suspicion of attempted murder.

Judge followed defense lawyer's request
However, the detention judge followed the legal opinion of the defense lawyer and released the man from Lungau in exchange for lenient measures. Accordingly, he must abstain from alcohol, have this checked daily by the police and refrain from contact with the victim - a local man (37).

It is unclear how the knife attack in the neck area came about: both the alleged perpetrator and the victim were very drunk - with blood alcohol levels between 2.3 and 3. Both spoke of memory gaps.