Murder charges in Vienna: body in suitcase shocks the city!

Murder charges in Vienna: body in suitcase shocks the city!

In the vibrant city of Vienna, a cruel crime came to light on February 28, 2025 that is heating up emotions. The police found the body of a 59-year-old man in a suitcase on Quellenstrasse in Favoriten. A 28-year-old Austrian citizen of Egyptian descent is now suspected of having committed the crime. The Vienna public prosecutor's office has already filed a murder charge with the regional court, which will be heard in the next few weeks, but the exact trial date is still pending Puls24 reports.

The investigations have painted a shocking picture: The defendant is said to have met his victim in a hotel in Döbling in February 2023. The man was known as a permanent guest and the relationship developed when the defendant asked for financial help in July 2024 and received 10,000 euros. However, this debt was not repaid and the victim increasingly demanded pressure. At the beginning of 2025, the total debt amounts to 15,000 euros, which ultimately led to the brutal act.

The atrocity and its consequences

On February 26, 2025, after the defendant had rented an apartment on Humboldtgasse, he overpowered his victim, tied him up and suffocated him with a cable tie. The body remained in the apartment for two days because the defendant did not know how to dispose of it. Ultimately, he decided to get a hard-shell suitcase and deliver the grisly result of his actions to a dumpster, where a worker happened to discover a human foot. This led to the police being alerted immediately.

The suspect was finally arrested on March 7, 2025. When searching the apartments, the police not only discovered evidence of the crime, but also that the defendant had withdrawn around 24,000 euros using the victim's ATM card. Despite these investigation results, the defendant has not yet confessed and has exercised his right to refuse to testify. His defense attorney has not yet made any statement on the matter.

A look at the crime situation in Vienna

The brutal murder charge is part of a worrying picture of crime in Austria, especially in Vienna. According to current statistics, around 528,000 crimes were reported in Austria in 2023, the highest level since 2016. Over a third of these crimes, around 186,000, occurred in the federal capital. Of particular concern are the 85,400 thefts and the rise in drug-related crime, which according to a survey accounted for 35,400 reported crimes last year. These figures pose major challenges for the city and increase the discussion about safety and crime in society, as well Statista clarified.

The murder charge against the 28-year-old, if convicted, could see him serve 10 to 20 years in prison or even life in prison. The understanding that murder is not subject to a statute of limitations in Austrian jurisprudence encourages investigators and law enforcement authorities to act rigorously in such cases. Section 211 of the German Criminal Code, which contains similar regulations for murder, describes similar motives such as greed and reprehensible ways of committing crimes that could possibly be used here Wikipedia highlights.

The ongoing investigations and upcoming court proceedings are being watched with excitement. The people of Vienna are eagerly awaiting answers and, above all, justice in this shocking case.