Klagenfurt: Husband abused wife and children for years!

Klagenfurt: Husband abused wife and children for years!

A frightening case of domestic violence shook the city of Klagenfurt on November 8, 2025. At 1:00 p.m. the police were called due to noise in an apartment. On site it turned out that a 44-year-old husband had hit his 35-year-old wife several times in the face, causing her significant injuries. There are also serious suspicions that the man had threatened to kill him and abused his wife over several years.

In addition, the couple's 16-year-old daughter was affected by the violent acts. She was forced, under threat of beating, not to leave the apartment outside of school hours. There are also other children in the family between the ages of 5 and 18 who are also considered victims of domestic violence.

Legal measures and protection options

Given the seriousness of the allegations, the police immediately imposed a ban on entering and approaching the husband. After the interview, the public prosecutor ordered the man to be sent to the Klagenfurt prison. These steps are part of a larger legal framework put in place in Austria to protect victims of domestic violence. The first Violence Protection Act came into force on May 1, 1997 and allows the police to evict potential perpetrators from their homes for up to two weeks, which is identified by the [bmfwf.gv.at](https://www.bmfwf.gv.at/frauen-und-gleichstellung/greif-gegen-frauen/freude Formen/haeusliche-violent.html) as one of the three original protection pillars.

Since 2020, a personal approach ban has also been in effect, which prohibits approaching a victim within 100 meters. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to 2,500 euros. In addition to these measures, violence protection centers are available to those affected, which offer support in the form of safety plans, legal advice and psychosocial help. These legal frameworks are crucial to ensure safety for victims and to free them from threatening situations.

Domestic violence prevention strategies

In order to effectively combat domestic violence, numerous prevention strategies have been developed since the introduction of the Violence Protection Act. The [parlament.gv.at](https://www.parlament.gv.at/fachinfos/rlw/Wie-soll-haeuslicher-Gewalt-vorgebiegt- Werden) emphasizes that intervention facilities in all federal states ensure rapid support for people at risk. These mechanisms, which are also adapted to crisis situations, not only offer immediate help, but also long-term protection options.

Recent changes in the law have also expanded the ability of the police and judiciary to take more victim-centered measures. Among other things, a new criminal offense for “continued use of violence” was introduced, which allows violence over longer periods of time to be punished more harshly. The number of cases in which women and children become victims of domestic violence makes the need for such regulations all the more urgent.

This current incident is not just an isolated incident; it is part of a larger problem that remains hidden in many households and communities. Combating domestic violence requires both legal measures and social rethinking. It is vital that assault and abuse of power in relationships is no longer tolerated and that those affected receive the support they need to break out of a cycle of violence.