Two victims

Knife attack in the street: eight years in prison

A 47-year-old man with a previous conviction was sentenced to eight years in prison at the regional court in St. Pölten on Thursday. He had committed an intentional grievous bodily harm with a knife attack on two acquaintances, as the court ruled without final judgment.

A 47-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison in St. Pölten on Thursday for a knife attack on the street in Wilhelmsburg (St. Pölten district) last October. The Turkish citizen is said to have attacked and injured acquaintances aged 29 and 39. The guilty verdict for intentional grievous bodily harm is not legally binding. The jury denied the charge of attempted murder contained in the indictment.

The attack has a complex history. According to the public prosecutor, the 47-year-old - who was born in Turkey and has lived in Austria for 22 years - had had a "friendly relationship" with the wife of one of the later victims for some time. This was not to the liking of the victim's partner. He suspected an affair and the couple apparently argued several times. On October 11, 2023, the woman finally left the marital home. She warned the accused by phone that her partner was planning something against him.

"Offended honor"
The decisive factor for the attack the following day was "the defendant's offended honor" and an "emotional escalation" based on this history, the public prosecutor concluded. The temporary separation and various rumors are likely to have made the rounds in the Turkish community in the meantime.

When I saw the blood, I was in shock.

Angeklagter

The 47-year-old, who had two previous convictions, then went to the Wilhelmsburg business of a 39-year-old acquaintance - ultimately also to stake out his position in the relationship case. Stones were thrown at him there, the accused said in the jury hearing.

Deep stab in the back
"There was an exchange of words and a scuffle", admitted the Turkish man's defense lawyer. The accused is said to have stabbed his opponent five centimetres deep in the back with a kitchen knife he had brought with him. "When I saw the blood, I was in shock," the accused looked back. Several months later, the 39-year-old is still unable to comprehend the attack. "I never had an argument with this person", he emphasized in the witness stand.

Second victim was in mortal danger
The 29-year-old husband of the defendant's confidante came sprinting to the scene a little later. "I heard commotion", the witness stated. After making a threat, the 47-year-old is said to have stabbed the man in the stomach. "It was short and sweet. I was hurt and it was over in a flash," the victim recalled.

I didn't want to hurt him. The thing is, I was already completely confused by the situation.

Angeklagter

"I didn't want to hurt him. The fact is that I was already completely confused by the situation," said the defendant again according to the interpreter. A 15-centimeter-deep wound was subsequently discovered. According to forensic doctor Wolfgang Denk, the 29-year-old's life was in danger and he received intensive medical treatment at the Wiener Neustadt Regional Hospital for several days.

Attempted escape by car
Before the emergency services arrived, the accused made off in a car. The Turkish man was stopped and arrested in the district of Lilienfeld. The kitchen knife with a blade length of around 20 centimeters was seized in the car.

The main question of attempted murder regarding the attack on the 29-year-old was answered in the negative by seven of the eight lay judges, but there was unanimity on the charge of intentional grievous bodily harm. The attack on the 39-year-old was classified as attempted grievous bodily harm.

The 47-year-old must pay the victims 4000 and 15,000 euros respectively. The guilty verdict is not legally binding; the public prosecutor's office, the defense and the two private party representatives each made no statement.