Suspended sentence

Soldier pointed a loaded pistol at a comrade

The incident took place here, in the Schwarzenberg barracks in Salzburg.(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

A conscript (18) pulled out his pistol during guard duty in a Salzburg barracks at the beginning of July and threatened another soldier, according to the indictment. He received a six-month suspended sentence.

The accused (18) has been serving his compulsory military service in the Austrian army at the Schwarzenberg barracks in Salzburg since the beginning of May. And he actually wanted to become a professional soldier.

However, an incident that occurred on July 9 will make his military career much more difficult. According to the indictment, the 18-year-old pointed a loaded pistol at a fellow soldier. He himself said at the trial on Tuesday: "I didn't do that, I just played with the safety catch."

Pistol was apparently unlocked and loaded
The comrade, who testified as a witness, said differently: "He pulled out the gun and pointed it at me, probably as a joke. I then dodged up and to the side."

Days later, a superior heard about the incident. The report turned into a trial for making a dangerous threat and willful misconduct under the Military Criminal Code. The public prosecutor demanded a punishment: "The gun was unlocked, the distance was only two meters. That makes you shudder."

The sentence, which was not final, was six months on probation. He also has to attend counseling.