Curious trial
Viennese pensioner accused of stealing potted plants
A 72-year-old wanted to buy a special potting soil at a flower market in Donaustadt in the summer. Now the man ended up in the lay assessor's court and faced a sentence of up to five years in prison. The former restaurateur, who owns a large house and an SUV, is accused of stealing a hose reel and a potted plant.
The friendly 72-year-old enters the courtroom together with his defense lawyer. He smiles, but you can tell he is nervous from his restless legs under the prosecution table. No wonder: the pensioner, who ran two restaurants as a successful restaurateur, faces up to five years in prison in Vienna's Landl district on Wednesday. The elderly gentleman apparently came to the accusation of robbery like the virgin to the child.
Branch manager observed suspicious couple
According to the public prosecutor's office, on July 26, 2023, he allegedly smuggled a tubular trolley and a potted plant past the checkout in a large garden center in Donaustadt. "The branch manager noticed the accused, who was traveling with a woman, in the market. He then observed and followed him," says the public prosecutor. When the cashier confirmed that no tubular goods had been paid for, he stopped the black SUV in which the suspected thief was sitting in the parking lot.
A man in jeans and a T-shirt knocked on the window and shouted something like 'Open up, you fool'.
Der Angeklagte über den Niederlassungsleiter
"A man in jeans and a T-shirt suddenly knocked frantically on the window and shouted something like 'Open up, you fool'. I was scared and drove off," says the accused, describing the strange situation. He had only wanted to buy black soil to fill a hole that his sheepdog had dug in the garden. When he was told in the market that this special soil was not available, he left.
The defendant drove away out of fear
As a witness, the branch manager is absolutely certain that it is the defendant whom he observed in the store together with a woman. "I don't have a wife, just my dog," the pensioner affirms, shaking his head, but still friendly. He doesn't need a potted plant or a hose reel because he already has two hose systems - with a different connection system. The defense attorney presents pictures of this, as well as a photo of the dog.
It's a very strange story. There are two accounts that diverge greatly. We came to the conclusion that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Die Richterin bei der Urteilsverkündung.
"It's a very strange story. There are two accounts that are very different. We came to the conclusion that it was a case of mistaken identity," said Judge Danja Petschniker, explaining the - not legally binding - acquittal after a brief deliberation. The witness did not have the couple in view at all times. The 72-year-old is relieved, but would have preferred to have spared himself the excitement of the long prison sentence.
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