Trial Over Doctor Kellermayr's Suicide Begins with Defendant's Silence

The trial against a 61-year-old German man, identified only as M., commenced on Wednesday at the Wels Regional Court. The defendant faces allegations of making severe threats towards Dr. Lisa-Maria Kellermayr, an Austrian physician, primarily through email communications. The court has scheduled a total of four days for the trial, with a verdict expected to be delivered on April 9.

According to a forensic psychiatric assessment, the threats made by M. in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and various vaccination campaigns may have contributed to Dr. Kellermayr's tragic suicide. M. is defended by attorneys Sonja Fasthuber and Martin Feigl, who stated that while their client acknowledges a dispute with Kellermayr, he does not admit to any wrongdoing.

During the pandemic, Dr. Kellermayr, an advocate for vaccinations, endured months of intimidation from anti-vaccine groups, receiving numerous threats via email and social media. Following a police report made on November 22, 2021, she closed her medical practice in Seewalchen am Attersee in the summer of 2022 due to safety concerns. Tragically, she took her own life a few weeks later, with her body discovered in her clinic on July 29, 2022, at the age of 36. Memorial events have since been held in various cities, including a gathering organized by the initiative #YesWeCare at Stephansplatz in Vienna.

Investigations in both Germany and Austria were launched following Dr. Kellermayr's death, leading to the identification of M. as the author of the threatening messages. Authorities continue to investigate additional intimidation attempts made by an unidentified individual.

From February to July 2022, M. allegedly sent four emails and three messages on Twitter (now X), suggesting that Dr. Kellermayr would face a makeshift 'people's tribunal' and be imprisoned. Such rhetoric is often associated with groups that reject state authority, including the so-called 'Reichsbürger' movement.

Although M. does not dispute sending the messages, he characterized them as part of a mutual argument rather than threats. His defense team emphasized M.'s belief that those who publicly advocate for vaccination during a contentious time could face legal consequences. They clarified that references to a 'tribunal' pertained to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Defense attorney Feigl argued that Dr. Kellermayr had engaged with anti-vaccine activists online and expressed a strong stance in those interactions. M. reportedly did not foresee the devastating outcome of her suicide, which he deeply regrets. He further stated that the case should be examined in the context of Dr. Kellermayr's personal health issues and threats from another unidentified user on the dark web that included severe threats.

In Germany, inquiries into M. had also been conducted. However, the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office temporarily closed its case, citing the ongoing investigation in Austria. M.'s German attorney, Jessica Hamed, contended that his statements were protected under freedom of expression. Investigations into the source of other threatening emails are still underway.

As the trial progresses, numerous witnesses and expert testimonies are expected to be presented. If convicted, M. faces a potential prison sentence ranging from one to ten years. A major challenge for the prosecution will be establishing a direct link between the threats made and Dr. Kellermayr's suicide. The charges focus on whether M.'s actions placed another individual in a state of extreme distress.