Murder trial

Viennese jeweler killed with 19 stab wounds

Ali G. confesses, but blames others for the dramatic course of the crimes.

(Bild: HERBERT NEUBAUER / APA / picturedesk.com)

It was the others' fault - that's how you could summarize the testimony of the 21-year-old Serb accused of three brutal home invasions and, above all, the murder of a 74-year-old Viennese jeweller. The accused surprised the court with his statement: "I am not a violent criminal."

Defense lawyer Martin Mahrer announces a comprehensive confession from his client at the trial. No surprise for the public prosecutor: "The defendant left plenty of DNA at the crime scenes." So there is no doubt that he is the perpetrator. Ali G. then says that he was mainly forced to commit the crimes by his violent and gambling-addicted uncle: "He held a gun to my head, he's a dangerous man." This uncle can no longer be questioned about this. He committed suicide.

Uncle gave him cocaine
According to Ali G., he is said to have scouted out everything. The robbery of a jeweler in Vienna-Landstraße on October 14, 2020 was also his idea. But why did Ali G. stab the 74-year-old man 19 times? "He grabbed his waistband, I thought he had a weapon," the accused replied: "I didn't want to kill him." Ali G. reveals that something else contributed to the act of violence: "My uncle gave me cocaine before the crime. I felt really strange in my head." The victim, a former boxer, dragged himself outside the store but could no longer be saved.

My client comes from a good family, but was motivated to commit his own crimes by the crimes of his uncle.

Verteidiger Martin Mahrer

Opera singer was able to chase perpetrators away
Ali G. is also accused of brutal home invasions. He and an accomplice broke into the apartment of an opera singer just 18 hours before the jewelry store robbery. The artist was seriously injured by blows to the face with a crowbar, but was able to chase the perpetrators away by shouting for help in his loud, trained singer's voice.

"Only" 20 years in prison
In other cases, Ali G. blamed the tipsters for the course of the robberies. For example, in the case of the robbery in an apartment, they had not expected the tenants, a married couple, to be at home. Ali G. says that he did not see the accomplice threaten to kill the man several times at gunpoint. 260,000 euros were taken during the robbery. The public prosecutor has not charged Ali G. with a further 51 burglaries. He is "only" facing 20 years in prison as he was under 21 years old at the time of the crime. Verdict on Wednesday.