Murder Alert in Lower Austria

Woman (38) Found Beaten to Death in Her Garden

The incident took place on Easter Sunday in Sooß.(Bild: Monatsrevue/Lenger Thomas)

Horrific crime on Easter Sunday: A Serbian-Kosovar mother (38) was found dead with severe injuries in the garden of a residential building. The suspect is her husband, from whom she is reportedly separated. According to information from the “Krone,” there may be multiple weapons involved.

The incident is said to have occurred on Sunday around 6:30 p.m. in Sooß (Lower Austria). In addition to stab wounds to the head, the woman is said to have sustained gunshot wounds.

Husband Arrested by Police
The suspected perpetrator was quickly apprehended by police and is already in custody. He is the victim’s husband. According to initial reports from the “Krone,” the 47-year-old Austrian citizen of Kosovar descent is alleged to have killed the woman with a screwdriver and a 9-millimeter handgun. The mother sustained multiple serious stab and gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.

A pistol was also found at the scene
According to the investigation, the couple had been arguing repeatedly, but the motive for the bloody crime has not yet been determined, officials said. An autopsy of the body has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. Horrific: The couple has four minor children.

Help with violence – Important numbers for women in Austria:

• Women’s Helpline: 0800 222 555 | www.frauenhelpline.at
• Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters (AÖF):www.aoef.at
• Women’s Shelter Emergency Hotline: 0577 22
• Austrian Violence Protection Centers: 0800 700 217 | www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at
• Police Emergency Hotline: 133

Every woman must have the right to a life free from violence – “we are working with all our might to achieve this,” emphasized Minister for Women Eva-Maria Holzleitner and Minister of Justice Anna Sporrer (both SPÖ). Yet the reality is harsh: In Austria, hardly a day goes by without a new case of violence against women; particularly around holidays, violence often escalates within one’s immediate social circle. The two ministers appealed to women: “Violence protection centers, the police, counseling centers, and emergency hotlines are there for victims. Please make use of this expertise if you need help or witness violence in your surroundings.”