Trial Over Threat Against Simone Lugner at Vienna Regional Court

During a radio show with the widow of Richard Lugner at the Gasometer, a defendant made himself noticeable outside the studio. A bodyguard of Simone Lugner recalled that the man threatened to kill those present through a glass window and shouted the name "Simone." He banged on the window and the rolling door, threw a chair, and then disappeared.

Witness reports of death threats and sexist remarks against Simone Lugner

"He was quite furious," said the station's manager afterwards. The defendant had made not only death threats but also sexist remarks. In his assessment, the man was "extremely dangerous": "It was threatening. He wanted to get in (to the studio, note), that was very clear. He wanted to get in aggressively." Therefore, the police were called, who were able to arrest the 29-year-old shortly thereafter on the Gasometer grounds. Simone Lugner was "calm and composed, as everyone knows her," but probably "internally agitated," noted the radio producer. The 43-year-old also did not appear at the trial. "She's not coming today, she has to dance," said Judge Andreas Böhm, referring to the TV show "Dancing Stars," whose finale will take place next Friday and for which Simone Lugner is preparing. Her interests were represented by her legal counsel Florian Höllwarth, who joined the criminal proceedings as a private party representative. He claimed 500 euros for the emotional distress suffered by his client.

Signs of a mental illness in the defendant

The previous statements of the defendant were read out. He had assured the police that he had not threatened anyone: "I don't want to kill anyone. (...) They were all too far away." He had ridden his bicycle to the Gasometer at the time and had noticed Simone Lugner by chance. There are indications suggesting a mental illness in the man. He may have already been under medical treatment for possible schizophrenia. According to his own statements, he also intended to visit Richard Lugner's grave at the Grinzinger Cemetery, but he could not find the final resting place of the deceased, who passed away last August. At the next hearing, the appointed psychiatric expert Siegfried Schranz is to make a personal impression of the 29-year-old and possibly assess him. Despite being asked three times to be examined by the expert, the man has not complied with this request so far.

(APA/Red)

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