Trial in Feldkirch

Frightening little children

The accused early retiree did not have much to say in court.(Bild: Chantall Dorn)

On Friday, a 41-year-old early retiree from Dornbirn had to answer for a cut-throat gesture towards children at Feldkirch Regional Court.

Four playing children - the youngest child is just four years old, the oldest twelve - experienced a veritable moment of shock in the courtyard of a residential complex in Dornbirn in mid-June: out of nowhere, the accused suddenly tore open the balcony door and put an abrupt end to the quartet's exuberant play with a cutthroat gesture.

The great silence
When the shocked girls told their parents about the incident, they reported it to the police. Upon investigation, the officers find the heavily intoxicated early retiree in his apartment. As he could not be questioned due to his condition, he was summoned to the police station to make a statement. But he didn't say a word there either.

Nor did he say anything in court on Thursday: the 41-year-old was quite surprised when Judge Lisa Pfeifer confronted him with the allegations: "Hoi, funny", he said, once again refusing to give any further details about the case.

Public prosecutor Johannes Hartmann had demanded a guilty verdict for the defendant and therefore did not make a statement at the end. The acquittal is therefore not yet legally binding.(Bild: Chantall Dorn)

His argument: "I don't even know the names of the children. Maybe it wasn't me at all." In addition, there is always a coming and going in the block of flats: "You don't know your way around your own house anymore. But if the accusations against me are true, I'm sorry and I apologize."

Because he didn't know what he was doing
Due to the early retiree's alcohol problem, the council assumes in case of doubt that the man did not really want to threaten the children with his behavior and therefore acquits him. The verdict is not final.