Pre-trial detention requested

Shooting death in front of barracks: Judiciary requests pre-trial detention

Mustafa P. (pictured) did not survive the shot. The 20-year-old gunman has now been remanded in custody.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Wassermann / zVg)

The worst fears are likely to come true: After the fatal shooting in front of the Türk barracks in Spittal an der Drau, the police and public prosecutor's office see an urgent suspicion of murder and have applied for pre-trial detention. The shooter (21) was transferred to Klagenfurt prison.

Countless mourners bid farewell to Mustafa P. (21) in the Turkish mosque in Spittal an der Drau on Thursday morning. No one could understand how this fatal shooting in front of the Türk barracks could have happened. "Why would anyone want to kill Musti?" - was the general tenor. Even if, at the same time, it was difficult to imagine that it was an accident.

Mustafa P. (21) was bid farewell in the Turkish mosque in Spittal an der Drau.(Bild: zVg)

In fact, however, the worst fears seem to have come true: Less than 48 hours after the temporary arrest of the shooter Lukas P., the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt has requested pre-trial detention for the 21-year-old.

"We have come to the conclusion that there is strong suspicion against the 21-year-old", Tina Frimmel-Hesse, first public prosecutor in Klagenfurt, confirmed to the "Krone" newspaper: "What he says cannot be reconciled with an initial expert ballistics report for the time being", said public prosecutor's spokeswoman Tina Frimmel-Hesse in the afternoon. "It can't have happened the way the suspect describes it."

Even if he insists in his interrogations that it was an accident and that the shot "somehow got loose". Just like his defence lawyer, Salzburg lawyer Kurt Jelinek, who emphasized that his client had not acted with "any intention to kill": "It was an extremely tragic accident. He is infinitely sorry." The accused conscript had called the rescue services himself immediately after the shot and also had no motive for such an act. 

The flag at the Türk barracks in Spittal an der Drau is flying at half-mast after the death drama.(Bild: Elisa Aschbacher)

However, as reported in detail, even a loaded service weapon - in this case a Glock17 model P80 - cannot simply fire a shot. Especially as the pistol must be holstered in accordance with regulations - except in a threatening situation or when a heightened security situation is declared. The bullet hit the victim in the chest - so why did the shooter have the gun in his hand in the first place?

Based on all these facts and the findings of the investigators following intensive questioning of the suspect and witnesses, the judiciary was apparently of the opinion that the 21-year-old's version of the accident was not plausible. And in the early hours of Thursday afternoon, they applied for him to be remanded in custody.

Further interrogations and the evaluation of the cell phone data - the investigators are looking for a possible motive - are still pending. The magistrate now has 48 hours to decide on the pre-trial detention.

Already "friction"
As the "Krone" learned from people close to the two soldiers, there is said to have been some "friction" between the victim and the shooter beforehand. But no one would have even suspected that it would ever come to a fatal shot.