Controversial verdicts

Exciting trials: Corona also sat in the courtroom

Austria's first coronavirus criminal trial took place at the regional court in Klagenfurt. Today, the accusation against the defendant seems almost ridiculous, but back then it was considered life-threatening.(Bild: Kerstin Wassermann)

Five years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, it is also time to shed light on the role of the judiciary: On the one hand, it was faced with major challenges - on the other, some charges and verdicts are now controversial. The first Covid criminal trial took place in Carinthia and caused quite a stir.

Five years ago today, the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Carinthia. But July 22, 2020 will also go down in the annals of coronavirus history - because on that day, the Klagenfurt Regional Court handed down the first conviction in Austria in connection with the virus, which was thus also covered by criminal law. The accusation seems almost ridiculous today, but back then it was classified as life-threatening: