Brutal triple murder in Vienna: court ruling and schizophrenia discussion

Brutal triple murder in Vienna: court ruling and schizophrenia discussion

In a sensational court trial, the brutal murder of three women in a Viennese red light studio is discussed. The 27-year-old K. was on trial after he was said to be fatally injured the women in Brigittenau in February 2024 with over 100 knife stings. This not only represented a shocking murder, but also revealed the complexity of mental illnesses and its influence on the behavior of the perpetrator.

During the negotiation, the prosecutor described the deeds as "extremely brutal" and "incredibly cruel". The defendant, K., was classified as a person concerned because a psychiatric report had shown that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was not compatible at the time of the crime. The process clarified that K. cannot receive punishment, but is instructed in a forensic-therapeutic center.

The deed in detail

On February 23, K. entered the brothel with several knives. After the violent attack on the women, another witness was locked up in a room for security, while she heard the desperate screaming of her colleagues. "I am so grateful that I am still alive," she said after her survey. This statement underlines the dramatic circumstances under which the crime took place.

A psychiatric expert announced that the large number of stab wounds, especially in the face of the victims, make the horror stress even more precarious and cruel. According to his assessment, the brutality of the crime was alarming and indicated a profound disorder in the perpetrator. The background story of the perpetrator, who came to Austria as a refugee, also raises questions about the increased risks of psychiatric diseases in this population group, as the court psychiatrist Peter Hoffmann explained.

At the end of the negotiation, K. spoke of his uncertainty about the deeds: "I don't know, I can't say anything about it, it wasn't in my hand." This suggests that he cannot understand the full scope of his actions. The court's decision to improve him in the execution of the measures acts as a form of security for society, while at the same time taking into account that K. is psychiatrically ill.

The judgment was made on Monday and is already final. In the future, K. will be accommodated in a forensic-therapeutic center, where he can potentially receive the necessary treatment for his illness.

For further information on the topic of violence on women and possible support, various hotlines are set up. Affected people can contact 01/12 345 around the clock.