Both eyes cauterized

Linz woman (31) sprayed paint on police officer’s face

The 31-year-old defendant apologized to the court for the dangerous spray attack

(Bild: Dostal Harald, Krone KREATIV)

An officer suffered chemical burns to both eyes in the attack by the woman and had to be treated in hospital. The confessed sprayer has now been convicted of grievous bodily harm and resisting public authority. The sentence was lenient, but is not yet legally binding.

It sounded like a routine operation, but it almost ended in disaster for a police officer (33) when he wanted to question a tenant (31) about a neighborhood dispute in Linz on 26 July. Loud music could be heard coming from the woman's apartment. Accompanied by a colleague, he rang the doorbell and shouted: "Open the door, police!".

The 31-year-old did not respond at first. After a while, however, the music was turned down and the front door was opened a little. Then the woman suddenly pulled out a spray can and sprayed paint in the police officer's face.

The officer suffered chemical burns to both eyes and had to be treated in hospital. Legal consequence: the 31-year-old was charged with grievous bodily harm and resisting public authority.

The accused allegedly sprayed the police officer in the face

(Bild: EPA)

On Tuesday, she had to answer to Judge Oliver Schoiswohl at the Linz Regional Court. The mentally disturbed woman was brought before the court by law enforcement officers from the Neuromed Campus, where she is currently being held.

Paint instead of propane gas
"I plead guilty in accordance with the criminal complaint," the Linz woman assured the judge. She then explained to the judge how the serious assault could have happened.

"I was transferred from Rotterdam to Linz at the time and was quite angry because my cell phone had been stolen," said the defendant. She had also mistaken the can of paint for a can of lighter fluid. "If you spray a person in the eye, they can be blind," Schoiswohl warned.

Compensation for damages
In the end, the sentence was lenient: Six months conditional - not legally binding. The police officer claimed damages of 1050 euros, which were accepted by the judge.