Nineteen-Year-Old Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Serious Stabbing in Vienna Park

A 19-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison by a jury court for causing severe bodily harm in a violent altercation that nearly resulted in the death of a 33-year-old acquaintance. The incident took place on August 5 in Vienna's Floridsdorf district at the Wasserpark, and stemmed from a dispute over a borrowed mobile phone.

The verdict, delivered under the Youth Court Act, followed a detailed examination of the events leading up to the assault. The court determined that the defendant, a Bulgarian national, intentionally inflicted serious injuries but did not attempt murder. The jury unanimously rejected the accusation of attempted murder as well as the defendant's claim of self-defense.

According to the case proceedings, the younger man had recently arrived in Vienna and was working as a seasonal laborer. He had met the 33-year-old victim about a week before the incident. The two occasionally spent time together in the park, consuming energy drinks, and the defendant had previously borrowed the victim's phone to contact his mother abroad for financial support.

On the day of the attack, the defendant approached the victim and his companion, who had already been consuming alcohol in the park. The defendant borrowed the mobile phone again for a prolonged call with his mother. When the victim demanded his phone back after 15 minutes, a heated argument ensued, escalating into a physical confrontation. Conflicting accounts were presented in court, with the victim claiming that after their initial altercation, the defendant signaled him over on the street before launching the attack. The defendant, however, maintained that he acted to defend himself after being struck and physically restrained by the older man. The court ultimately did not accept this justification.

During the confrontation, the defendant produced a folding knife--which he claimed to have found days earlier in the park--and stabbed the victim twice in the chest. Medical testimony revealed that these wounds caused severe trauma to the heart and lungs, resulting in significant internal bleeding. The victim's life was saved only because a nearby ambulance crew was able to provide immediate medical attention, having been present in the area for an unrelated incident. The victim underwent emergency surgery, including the splitting of the breastbone, and spent several days in intensive care.

The court considered several factors in determining the sentence. Aggravating circumstances included the use of a weapon, while mitigating factors noted the defendant's young age and his otherwise unremarkable prior conduct. In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay EUR9,000 in compensation to the victim for pain and suffering.

The verdict is not yet legally binding, as the prosecution did not immediately state whether it would appeal. The case highlights the challenges faced by young migrants in unfamiliar environments, as well as the potential for minor disputes to escalate into life-threatening violence.