Court orders pre-trial detention for Langenzersdorf murder suspect

A court in Korneuburg has ordered pre-trial detention for an 18-year-old suspected of killing a 29-year-old man in Langenzersdorf, ORF reported. The alleged motive was likely hatred of homosexual people.

The suspect is believed to belong to the so-called “pedo hunter” scene, which predominantly falsely accuses homosexual people of paedophilia and uses violence against them. Police said he confessed during questioning to killing the man from Vienna. Court spokesperson Barbara Michalek confirmed the detention on Saturday.

The suspect, who is from the Korneuburg district, had contacted the 29-year-old through a social media platform to arrange a meeting at a single-family home overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. The owner was on holiday and had asked the 18-year-old’s family to look after the property in his absence.

During the meeting, the suspect allegedly inflicted severe injuries to the man’s head and neck, killing him. He then contacted a relative, who alerted police at about 6.30am. Officers found the body, arrested the 18-year-old and took him to a prison.