Ex-restaurateur killed

“Devil killer” declared insane

According to an expert opinion, the "devil killer" suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. He posed as a muscleman on social networks.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/zVg, Zwefo, Krone KREATIV)

The young Viennese "Devil Killer" has now been declared insane. The 26-year-old is therefore likely to escape a murder charge. He killed his former flatmate (70) in his apartment in Vienna's city center in November.

"He did not express a motive, but said he killed the man together with the devil," said a police spokeswoman at the time. Her client suffers from a severe form of paranoid schizophrenia, said lawyer Astrid Wagner. She therefore expects him to be placed in a forensic therapy center.

The 26-year-old Afghan had already made confused statements during his interrogation by the police and is currently in custody. He is likely to escape a murder charge due to insanity.

He has not stated a motive, but has said that he killed the man together with the devil.

Sprecherin der WIener Polizei

As reported, the victim was discovered dead in his apartment in the center of Vienna on November 7. The 70-year-old was from Switzerland and used to be a restaurateur. According to the autopsy, he died from several massive stab wounds inflicted with a sharp object.

During investigations among the victim's friends, the investigators finally came across information about the Afghan, who was legally resident in Austria. He was registered in the pensioner's apartment until September. On November 8, the suspect was arrested on the street in Vienna-Simmering. He admitted the crime to the police.

The motive is suspected to be the eviction from the smart apartment. Those close to the perpetrator had already described him as mentally unstable. He posed as a muscleman and fitness model on social networks.