Not legally binding

“Fawn murderer” was not charged as a thief

Four fawns were willfully killed, according to the accusation. (symbolic image)

(Bild: Michael Breuer)

An interesting and equally questionable trial for cruelty to animals and encroaching on someone else's hunting rights took place on Friday in the Linz provincial court. According to the indictment, a local FPÖ politician (57) deliberately killed four fawns in a meadow in Eidenberg and mowed off the legs of two others. Acquittal in case of doubt!

The story caused a lot of excitement, and on Friday it came to a temporary end with a court case for cruelty to animals and serious interference with another person's hunting rights: the accused farmer was acquitted in case of doubt, as the conditional intent could not be proven, according to the court. However, the verdict is not yet final.

The "Krone" reported in detail on the case history: A regional politician, part-time farmer and entrepreneur (57) is said to have deliberately killed four fawns in a meadow in Eidenberg on June 4 and mowed off the legs of two others. The mutilated baby animals later had to be rescued (killed) by hunters.

"I don't care"
Hunters had apparently also offered the FP politician the opportunity to search his meadow with drones before mowing. But the man from Mühlviertel is said to have flatly refused. He didn't care if there were deer in it, he is said to have replied. The hunters filed a complaint.

Meadow mowed by a stranger
On August 14, the 57-year-old was conspicuous again. Despite objections from witnesses, he allegedly mowed down someone else's clover meadow. He then allegedly pressed the grass into silage bales and transported it away. However, the preliminary proceedings for theft have since been dropped for purely formal reasons (reasons of expediency). "Because no higher threat of punishment was to be expected for the trial," explains public prosecutor Reinhard Huemer-Steiner.

Two bales of hay allegedly stolen
On April 13, the politician is also alleged to have attempted to cultivate someone else's field. The owner was only just able to stop him. Previously, he is said to have stolen two hay bales from the barn of a leased farm, even though they were marked with an owner's note. He is said not to have responded to the owners' written request to return the hay bales.