Neighborhood feud

Charged because man “mows down” neighbors like a goat

Mäh-Mäh! Goat calls are said to have resounded through a Carinthian village - uttered by a pensioner.(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger/Daniel Scharinger)

Carnival is over - but this indictment from Carinthia still sounds like the foolish season: a retired couple is being tried for stalking at the Klagenfurt provincial court for harassing their neighbors with "mowing-mowing calls". The hit song "Jö schau, so a Sau" also plays a role in the judicial farce.

The so-called stalking paragraph is intended to protect people whose lives are unreasonably affected by other people - mainly ex-partners. In most cases, the issue is that unwanted proximity is sought. But what about neighbors? You live next door to each other and probably can't avoid each other completely. When is something considered persistent persecution?