Pale fork attack in Wels: 15 years in prison for mentally ill people!

Pale fork attack in Wels: 15 years in prison for mentally ill people!

Wels, Österreich - On June 10, 2025, a 27-year-old man from a psychosocial care facility in Wels was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempts to murder. This reports 5min.at . The perpetrator had seriously injured a roommate in the course of a dispute with a pitchfork. The conflict occurred after the roommate denounced the defendant due to violations of the house rules.

The court found that the accused had already had a contaminated history. He recorded five criminal records, including a attempted bank robbery in 2013, in which he attacked an employee with a butter knife. At the time, he was sentenced to five years in prison for two attempts to make murder and attempted severe robbery.

psychological problems and accountability

The legal disputes were characterized by the question of man's accountability. His defense lawyer argued that at the time of the crime he was not accountable, while the public prosecutor insisted on his accountability. A psychiatric report confirmed the accountability, but pointed out the risk of further crimes due to his mental illness. The appraiser said that the voices that the accused heard were more to be regarded as "being loudly thoughts" and not as acoustic hallucinations.

The psychiatric expert described the mental problems of the man who appear typically in a society in which more than every fourth adult in Germany fulfills the criteria for mental illness during a year. The most common clinical pictures include anxiety disorders and depression. This information confirms the DGPPN.

The victim of the attack suffered a serious stab wound on the upper body, but was able to escape. Despite the tragic circumstances, the accused regretted his deed and stated that he had heard voices. The court found him unanimously guilty and ordered both the prison sentence and a forensic briefing, which is another measure for the defendant to deal with his psychological problems.

The social discussion about mental illnesses is also initiated by this case. Around 18 million people in Germany are affected by mental illnesses, which not only affects individual fates, but also has significant social and professional restrictions. Mental illnesses are also among the most common reasons for early retirement and days of illness at work.

The treatment of mental illnesses includes various approaches, including psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions. In acute cases, accommodation can be accommodated in a psychiatric facility on a judicial order, which serves as a preventive measure to prevent further acts of violence.