Caught having sex

Knife attack on father: “I was drunk”

The Graz Regional Criminal Court

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Because he stabbed his father with a knife in Feldbach (Styria), an 18-year-old had to answer for attempted murder at the Graz Regional Criminal Court on Tuesday. The father had previously caught his son having sex with his girlfriend - next to his siblings in the children's room. The jury ultimately decided on attempted manslaughter.

The crime took place in March when the accused came home drunk and had an argument with his father. "I deeply regret hurting him and I swear I didn't mean to kill him," the defendant affirmed.

What had happened? The young Ukrainian came home from a birthday party to his parents' home and brought his girlfriend with him. When he had sex with her in the children's room, where his siblings were sleeping, there was an argument between him and his father. The father rebuked him sharply and there was also a physical altercation.

Son came back with a switchblade
The son then left the apartment and returned with a switchblade knife. He used it to stab the father, who was washing himself in the bathroom. The 18-year-old then ran out of the apartment, threw the knife away and finally called the police.

When I argue with my father, I usually lose control.

Der Angeklagte

"Tense relationship"
"He had a very strained relationship with his father, and this argument was the last straw," said the defense attorney, emphasizing: "He is not a murderer." The man was stabbed in the shoulder and flank, but the injuries were not life-threatening.

The 18-year-old emphasized that he had not wanted to kill his father. "Then what did you want?" asked Judge Florian Farmer. "I was drunk and angry and acted in the heat of the moment," the defendant replied. The anger had blocked out his mind. At the police station, he had explained that he wanted to stab his father in the stomach.

During questioning, he admitted to having an aggression and alcohol problem. He underwent therapy in his home country because of his aggressive behavior, but after three sessions the war came and the family had to leave. The victim did not want to testify and his questioning was shown on video.

At the end of the trial, the jury found that it was not attempted murder. The 18-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison for attempted manslaughter (not final).