Teenager Charged with Brother's Murder in Leoben Court

A 15-year-old boy has appeared in a Leoben court facing charges of murder. The prosecution alleges that in September 2024, he fatally attacked his 35-year-old brother with an axe. The accused claims that his actions were driven by years of alleged sexual abuse by the older sibling.

The teen, who was just 14 at the time of the incident and thus legally culpable, lived with his mother, stepfather, and older brother in the same household. Tensions reportedly flared between the two brothers over various domestic issues. The defense attorney noted that the accused had been subjected to violence by his brother in the past, which escalated to sexual abuse.

In the days leading up to the murder, the teenager reportedly researched potential penalties for his crime and contemplated fleeing to Moscow. On the day following these considerations, he skipped school to carry out his plan. Armed with a double-headed axe, he entered his brother's room while the latter was asleep following a night shift. According to the prosecutor, the boy struck his brother with such force that he fell out of bed, resulting in 20 axe strikes and 11 stab wounds as noted in the autopsy report.

After committing the act, the teenager placed the axe in a backpack and wandered aimlessly before being apprehended shortly thereafter. Initially, he cited various reasons for his actions, including a dispute over unfinished renovations and hearing voices commanding him to kill. Eventually, he disclosed the history of sexual abuse he had endured.

During the court proceedings, the presiding judge inquired if there was a specific incident that provoked the murder. The boy responded that there was no singular trigger for his actions. He explained that he had deliberated for a long time before ultimately deciding to go through with the attack, detailing how he wielded the axe with both hands and struck his brother on the forehead, back of the head, shoulders, and neck. When asked if he had surprised his sibling in his sleep, the teenager confirmed this with an emotionless demeanor.

As the court awaits a verdict from the jury panel, this tragic case raises significant questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident and the broader implications of familial violence and abuse.