Murder trial in Tyrol

Was it murder? Day two of the trial in the Leon case

The defense lawyers and the defendant

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof/Krone KREATIV)

The mother of Leon (6), who drowned, is adamant that his father is not responsible for the Tyrolean boy's death. It was an emotional few minutes in the courtroom on the second day of the trial.

The 39-year-old enters the jury courtroom in Innsbruck on day two of the murder trial, visibly agitated. "May I?" she asks hesitantly - only to hug her accused husband, sobbing.

She describes the weeks leading up to the drama as a phase of hope. The often restless boy with syngap syndrome had made a "crazy development". "He even ran to the calves on his own," she says, describing the neighboring farm as a highlight for the six-year-old. He was also able to make himself understood using his index finger, and there were three caregivers on hand.

The accused father after arriving in the jury courtroom at the start of the trial

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof/Krone KREATIV)

And yes, the rejection by the kindergarten in the summer of 2022 was a low blow, but the family had practically internalized the struggle. "My husband was the calming influence," emphasizes the physiotherapist. Most recently, her father also remodeled the kitchen to make it more suitable for Leon. "I never had a single doubt about my husband's innocence."

The krone.at ticker on the second day of the trial:

Mother can't solve the bottle mystery either
Like other caregivers, the mother was also unable to explain why a strikingly pink glass bottle (the alleged robber's murder weapon) was in the baby carriage before the drama, as videos prove. It is quite possible, she said, that someone had placed the empty bottle in this "junk compartment".

As reported, the 40-year-old claimed to have been knocked unconscious from behind on the night of August 22, 2022, after which Leon, who was extremely fascinated by water, ran into the nearby Großache near St. Johann and drowned. However, the investigation then led to the father. 

Leon's mother criticized the investigation. Over the course of a year and a half, she had lost trust in the police: they had even gone to shopkeepers in St. Johann to ask them for camera evaluations. Investigators on the witness stand, on the other hand, described their meticulous work.

Judge Andreas Fleckl hardly allows any impressions from Leon's caregivers about bright spots and setbacks in the family's life: "This does not resolve the question of guilt in this murder case," he announced after a brief deliberation by the senate. Videos showing happy moments with Leon were also rejected as evidence. 

Judge Andreas Fleckl presides calmly.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Application for bias rejected by the court
A motion to recuse the defense attorneys was also rejected. They pointed to a brief flippant dialog between jurors and the forensic pathologist outside the court building - to no avail. The verdict after around 25 witnesses on Thursday is scheduled for August 1.