Murder trial in Klagenfurt: soldier shot comrades - what's behind it?

Murder trial in Klagenfurt: soldier shot comrades - what's behind it?

On June 2, 2025, two young men in Carinthia will stand trial on suspicion of murder. A 20-year-old soldier is accused of shooting a 21-year-old comrade, Mustafa P., in the Türk barracks in Spittal. The incident occurred last fall, specifically on October 22, 2024. The victim's family considers the crime to be a clear murder, while the accused soldier says it was an accident. The murder trial begins on June 4, 2025 at the Klagenfurt Regional Court and is described as an emotional challenge for the victim's survivors.

During the trial, the defendant is expected to plead guilty, not to murder, but to gross negligence manslaughter. The soldier's lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, emphasizes that the shooting should be viewed as a tragic accident and that there was no intention behind it. The Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office has not yet been able to determine a motive for the crime. An expert also ruled out the guard's claim of an accident.

Detailed events

The two men had only known each other briefly before their military service, but were in regular contact during their service. About 20 minutes before the fatal incident, they communicated via Snapchat to show each other the results of their training. Before the crime they were alone in the guard room for two minutes, which doesn't make the crime any more comprehensible.

The maximum sentence that the defendant could receive if convicted is 20 years, as he was between 18 and 21 years old at the time of the crime. The court hearing is expected to last from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. The emotional toll on the victim's family during the trial could be significant.

Crime statistics and context

The Police Crime Statistics (PKS) records and presents the development of criminal activity in Austria and uses the Austrian Criminal Code and additional criminal laws as a basis. The PKS, which has been registering all reported cases electronically since 2001, is used for strategic criminal police action planning and is continually updated to support adapted security policy measures. However, it only documents crimes reported to the police and forwarded to the courts.

The latest available information on the PKS shows that various influencing factors, such as the reporting behavior of the population and legal changes, can influence the statistical figures. The security reports, which are prepared by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ), offer detailed insights into criminal policy developments and are updated annually.

The case of the soldier shot in Carinthia will continue to prove to be a significant test case for the Austrian justice system and could reignite public discussion about the use of weapons and safety in the military. Further information on crime in Austria can be found on the pages of Krone, Kleinen Zeitung and BundesKrimiamt.