Trial Over Killing of an 81-Year-Old in Baden: Man Denied Murder Charge

The 28-year-old is accused by the prosecution of having "murdered the pensioner in the most brutal manner" this February. The motive was suspected to be the unfulfilled hope of an inheritance. The Romanian is incriminated by DNA traces. The jury trial will continue on November 25.

The 28-year-old, who had known the victim since his childhood, is alleged by the prosecutor to have inflicted "17 massive blows to the head" on the elderly woman in her apartment on the night of February 10, presumably with a locksmith's hammer as the weapon. Subsequently, the man is said to have washed his hands and the weapon in the kitchen, dried himself with a dish towel, and placed a chair next to the corpse before leaving the apartment.

Prosecutor Suspects Financial Motive

According to the prosecutor, the accused "left a multitude of traces," such as DNA on the corpse, in the kitchen, on the dish towel, and on the chair, as well as shoe prints on the floor in the apartment. The crime was discovered on February 10. The 28-year-old was arrested at his residence in Baden on March 12 based on investigations and trace evaluations.

"A financial motive seems very likely," said the prosecutor. The 28-year-old had regularly visited and spent time with the elderly woman, who was like a "surrogate grandmother" to him and had no relatives, "until November 2024," and he had "great interest in her condominium in a prime location." The accused "is, in my view, an inheritance swindler," the pensioner saw through this and did not play along, "that was ultimately her death sentence," said the representative of the prosecution.

Defense Sees Only Circumstantial Evidence

Rudolf Mayer, who is defending the accused together with Nikolaus Rast, saw only circumstantial evidence, but no proof. The lawyer referred to an IT expert report, according to which his client had, among other things, made phone calls with several people, sent an email to his employer, and used mobile apps and social media on the night in question. A murderer would rather quickly flee, Mayer explained. He also noted that DNA traces could also be transferred by other people - for example, by the accused's mother during a visit to the 81-year-old on the afternoon of February 9. Additionally, the shoe profiles do not match.

For months he has been "innocently in prison" and wants "to clarify all this," emphasized the defendant. The 81-year-old was "a beloved person, like my own grandma," he explained. On February 9, after visiting his family, he took a walk with an acquaintance and his dog around 8:30 PM, after which "I was only at home and did not leave the apartment." In his first interrogation - initially as a witness - the man did not mention the walk. At that time, he stated that he went to sleep and got up the next day around 11:00 AM.

Continuation with Expert Reports and Witnesses on November 25

The financial circumstances of the defendant were examined in detail. "I have always been financially well," explained the defendant. According to court information, however, the 28-year-old's account was temporarily overdrawn, among other things, due to bets amounting to thousands of euros on online sports betting. He repeatedly received financial support from his family. In mid-February, the man received his employer's termination notice while on sick leave.

Regarding the inheritance, the accused assumed, according to his statement, that the son of a friend of the 81-year-old would receive the condominium. The man, born in 1969, was ultimately the sole heir - according to statements from witnesses, including a long-time friend of the victim, this was "always clear." The 81-year-old was "upset" last year that the 28-year-old believed he would receive her apartment when he visited her, recounted another friend of the victim and her husband. After that, according to the statements, there was less contact with the defendant.

The questioning of the 28-year-old's mother in the late afternoon could not be completed due to circulatory problems. The IT expert, along with other witnesses, is to be heard at the next jury trial date. On November 25, the autopsy and DNA reports will also be discussed. Additionally, decisions will be made on the defense's evidence requests.

In Austria, women experiencing violence can find help and information, among others, at the Women's Helpline: 0800-222-555, www.frauenhelpline.at; at the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (AÖF) at www.aoef.at, as well as at the Women's Shelter Emergency Call at 057722 and the Austrian Violence Protection Centers: 0800/700-217, https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/, at the Police Emergency Call: 133, and in Lower Austria at the NÖ Women's Telephone: 0800-800 810.

(APA/Red)

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