Jury rejects attempted murder conviction in Linz knife attack

A 23-year-old Lebanese man has been sentenced to two years in prison for serious bodily harm after a knife attack, ORF reported. The verdict by the Linz Regional Court is not legally binding. Prosecutors had charged him with attempted murder.

The jury found the man guilty of seriously injuring a 15-year-old Iraqi with a dagger, but acquitted him of a further attempted bodily harm charge involving a friend of the victim. Prosecutors had alleged that he also tried to stab the friend. The prosecution made no statement after the verdict.

The incident happened on December 17 at the defendant’s refugee accommodation. According to the prosecution, an acquaintance had brought three girls there, where they spent the evening drinking and relaxing. When the situation became uncomfortable, one of the girls called the 15-year-old, who arrived with two friends. A heated argument broke out, and the defendant allegedly pulled out a dagger and stabbed the teenager at least three times, including in the left lobe of his lung. The victim survived after emergency surgery.

The defendant told the court he had been heavily intoxicated and had also smoked marijuana. He said he had been attacked and stabbed without intending to kill anyone, claiming he only wanted to frighten the group. His lawyer described the stabbing as “conscious negligence.”

The victim, now 16, gave a different account, saying the defendant attacked him without provocation and stabbed him four times. He said he still suffered the consequences of the attack, could no longer do endurance sports as before and experienced sleepless nights and flashbacks.