Elderly Man Faces Legal Consequences After Parking Lot Altercation in Tulln

An 80-year-old man from Langenrohr has been charged with endangering physical safety and coercion following an incident at a parking lot in Tulln. The accused was alleged to have driven his vehicle toward another individual, making contact with him at the knee, during a dispute regarding parking spaces at a Billa supermarket.

Details surrounding the incident indicate that the confrontation stemmed from a disagreement over a parking spot. Initially, the elderly man pointed out to the victim that he was improperly parked in a space designated for disabled individuals; however, it was later revealed that the space was actually a family parking area. This misunderstanding led to a heated verbal exchange, during which the accused reportedly insulted the other party.

As the situation escalated, the victim attempted to document the scene by taking a photograph of the vehicle's registration plate. In response, the 80-year-old allegedly maneuvered his car at a slow speed toward the victim, making light contact and even briefly causing him to be lifted onto the vehicle's hood.

The first court hearing took place in mid-April at the St. Pölten Regional Court but was postponed to allow for further witness testimony. A 21-year-old paramedic, who was on his lunch break at the time, corroborated the victim's account, stating that the accused deliberately drove towards the victim, causing him to be momentarily elevated onto the car's hood.

During the proceedings, the defendant remained largely unrepentant, denying most of the allegations against him. Notably, this is not the first time the accused has faced legal issues related to a similar incident, with a prior conviction occurring eight years ago at the Tulln District Court.

The court ultimately imposed a fine of EUR3,000 on the elderly man. Meanwhile, the victim was directed to pursue his claim for symbolic damages of EUR300 due to psychological distress through civil court.

The ruling is not yet final, leaving the door open for possible appeals or further legal challenges.