Prosecutors charge husband with murder over Sooß killing
Tuesday 18th August 2026 on 08:30 in
Austria
Prosecutors in Wiener Neustadt have charged the husband of a 38-year-old mother of four with murder over her killing in Sooß, Lower Austria, on April 5, ORF reported. A 45-year-old man accused of selling the gun is also charged as an alleged accomplice.
According to the indictment, the 47-year-old went on Easter Sunday to the home where the woman had moved with her children, aged between eight and 17. He allegedly carried a handgun and a screwdriver.
The indictment says he fired three shots at the woman before stabbing her dozens of times with the screwdriver. Prosecutors say he had been unable or unwilling to accept their separation. The indictment also states that he believed the woman had “supernatural powers” and practised “black magic”.
A psychiatric assessment found that the man had been suffering from mental health problems for several years and had most recently appeared to have a schizotypal personality disorder. However, the disorder was not considered a severe or lasting mental illness, and the expert found that he was criminally responsible at the time of the killing.
The man allegedly left the woman’s body in the garden under foliage and was surprised by one of her sons as he tried to remove evidence from the house. He then called police and was arrested without resistance. During questioning by criminal investigators, he fully confessed, according to ORF.
He also implicated the 45-year-old, claiming that the man had sold him the handgun and ammunition for 900 euros and knew he intended to kill his wife. Prosecutors have therefore charged the 45-year-old as an alleged contributor to the murder. He is also being held in pre-trial detention at Wiener Neustadt prison.
The 45-year-old has numerous previous convictions, including a 16-year prison sentence for attempted murder. His lawyer, Mirsad Musliu, denied that his client was involved in the Sooß killing and called the husband’s claim a lie intended to secure a lighter sentence.
Women in Austria seeking help in a crisis can contact the women’s helpline on 0800 222 555, women’s shelters or violence protection centres. Support for men is available through Männerinfo on 0800 400 777 and the men’s emergency hotline on 05 76 77.