Man receives life sentence for shooting at Austrian police officers

Three men have been convicted over a 2025 home invasion and the shooting of two police officers in Amstetten, ORF reported. A 59-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder and other offences, although the sentence is not yet legally final.

All three defendants were convicted of attempted robbery after allegedly threatening a 74-year-old woman in her home and demanding money. Two men received final sentences of four years in prison each.

The 59-year-old, who had previously been convicted of a completed murder, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder. The jury reached unanimous verdicts. The two police officers were each awarded 5,000 euros, while the 74-year-old woman was awarded 7,050 euros.

The 59-year-old’s lawyer appealed against the sentence. The prosecutor, the other two defence lawyers and the representatives of the civil parties waived their right to appeal.

All three men denied the charge of armed robbery in court, claiming they had intended to commit a burglary. The 59-year-old also denied attempting to murder the officers. A bag found in the meantime allegedly contained burglary tools and adhesive tape.

The prosecution described the crime as planned, organised and ruthless, saying the men had wanted to steal 1.5 million euros. The prosecutor said the escape had escalated and that the shots fired at the officers had been deliberate rather than a panic reaction.

The 59-year-old had committed a robbery killing in Switzerland in 1999, shooting a security guard, and was released early from prison in 2022. The prosecutor said the victims had given credible accounts and that the woman was still suffering from the consequences of the attack.

The defence lawyers said the men had planned only a burglary and described the use of violence as limited. One lawyer said his 50-year-old client had not carried a weapon. The 59-year-old’s lawyer said there was no evidence of an intention to kill.

According to the indictment, the 59-year-old Kosovo national and a 56-year-old Albanian had travelled from abroad in summer 2025 to scout the house with a 50-year-old Kosovo national who had been living in Austria for some time.

On the morning of September 5, 2025, while the 74-year-old woman’s husband was walking the dog, the masked men entered the house and searched for valuables. The woman said one of them grabbed her upper arm and tried to force her down, while holding a cable tie. Another man raised a crowbar.

The arrival of a delivery driver interrupted the men and, according to the prosecution, prevented worse violence. The trio fled through the terrace door with a small amount of money. The woman later told police she had feared for her life.

During the escape, the 59-year-old allegedly waited for police officers on his knees near an embankment and fired at them from a distance of 12 metres. One officer said the situation had been extremely close. An expert testified that the officers had faced an immediate danger to their lives. The defendant claimed he had fired into the air. Neither officer was injured, and the suspect was arrested, followed by the alleged accomplices.