Attack on lover

Stabbed 42 times with a screwdriver and knife

The 40-year-old defendant in Vienna Landl and his bloodied hands after the crime.(Bild: Anja Richter, Krone KREATIV)

A 40-year-old Kosovar man and his longtime affair were arguing more and more often in Vienna. The situation escalated in October. The victim survived the attack. Defense lawyer Philipp Winkler did not want to know anything about attempted murder in view of the shallow depth of the stabbing. The man has now been sentenced to 15 years in prison, the verdict is final.

"I won't leave you until I've put you in the ground." "You won't live to see your birthday. Your brother will put flowers on your grave" - two of numerous messages that the 40-year-old accused in Vienna sent to his lover. Before he ambushed and stabbed her in Vienna on October 27, 2023.

A broken knife and a screwdriver served as the murder weapons.(Bild: Anja Richter, Krone KREATIV)

"He tried to kill her by attacking her twelve times with a broken knife and thirty times with a screwdriver," the public prosecutor introduced the jury hearing in Landl.

"Had a knife with him to open cans"
"My client pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. He intended to injure the woman, but did not want to kill her," replied his defense lawyer Philipp Winkler. This is proven by the shallow penetration depth of the dozens of hits to the back, throat, face, neck and hands. In addition, the Kosovar had used a broken knife.

"Why did you even have a knife and a screwdriver with you?" Ms. Rat wants to know. "I came from the building site. It often happens to me that I still have tools in my trouser pocket." - "But a kitchen knife isn't a construction site tool, is it?" asks the judge. "I used it to open cans during the breaks."

His motive is that his lover wanted to destroy his family - he and his wife have a young son. "I have a young son. He is the most precious thing in my life. I wasn't going to let him take that away from me."

The jury's verdict was unanimous in favor of the prosecution. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder.

In Austria, women who experience violence can find help and information from the Women's Helpline at: 0800-222-555,www.frauenhelpline.at; the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (AÖF) atwww.aoef.at; the Vienna Intervention Center against Violence in the Family/Vienna Violence Protection Center: www.interventionsstelle-wien.atund; the 24-hour Women's Emergency Hotline of the City of Vienna: 01-71719 as well as the Women's Shelter Emergency Hotline at 057722 and the Austrian Violence Protection Centers: 0800/700-217; Police Emergency Hotline: 133