In Graz prison

Prisoner (25) died from drugs and medication

A prisoner (25) found dead in Graz-Karlau prison last week is apparently the Carinthian man who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in early December 2023. 

A spokesperson for the Graz public prosecutor's office confirmed a media report on Tuesday. There were no indications of violence or external culpability. According to the autopsy, the man died of drug intoxication.

The man was sentenced on 4 December at the Leoben Regional Court (although not yet legally binding) for allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend (22) in Hohentauern in Upper Styria in May 2023 and then causing a traffic accident with suicidal intent.

In artificial deep sleep for weeks
After his accident, in which he suffered serious head injuries, the Carinthian was in an artificial deep sleep for several weeks. At the trial, he was unanimously found guilty by the jury. He accepted the verdict immediately.

The autopsy results are now available, a toxicology report is still pending, said a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office in Graz. This is likely to take some time, the police investigations are already quite advanced, it was said.