Santa Claus in prison: murder trial causes a stir in Vienna!

Santa Claus in prison: murder trial causes a stir in Vienna!

This week, the Vienna Criminal Court was once again dealing with a very special case that is preoccupying people's minds: a 60-year-old man, who is known as “Santa Claus” in the Josefstadt prison, was back in court. The attempted murder charge, which he was charged with after an incident in Sigmund Freud Park in July 2024, was thrown out by the jury in February last year. They decided instead on aggravated assault, which now led to a new trial after the verdict was suspended due to an alleged error by the jury. This is what the courier reports.

The trial, which will be heard by a newly constituted jury, could be of great importance for the defendant. As he himself explained, he acted in self-defense on July 29, 2024 when he stabbed a 55-year-old. In court, he vehemently denied attempting to murder, but admitted that during the argument in question he attacked the victim several times with a knife. The defense sharply criticized the actions of the professional judges.

The dispute in detail

As SN.at reports, the violent altercation took place during a meeting with a friend in Sigmund Freud Park. The defendant claims that he was initially subjected to a verbal attack by the later victim, who made insulting comments and then became violent. During the scuffle, the defendant says, he was in a state of exhaustion and acted out of fear of being “beaten up.” He stabbed the 55-year-old five times in the stomach area, causing serious injuries that required emergency surgery. The offer of alcohol - several cans of beer and vodka - is said to have played a role because the victim had no memory of the circumstances of the crime.

The defendant himself said that he could no longer do anything else in this situation and described his actions as a desperate defense. He stated that he stabbed him several times in the hope of breaking up the argument. The resulting injuries were so serious that, according to doctors, the 55-year-old's life was in acute danger.

Investigations and legal consequences

The investigation led to the defendant voluntarily going to the police at the end of August 2024 after he was wanted. A photo of “Santa Claus” had previously been distributed on TikTok, which further fueled public interest in this unusual event. He confessed to having a knife with him, but explained this as a bad habit from his time as a horse-drawn carriage driver. The man is also interested in his career: he learned the trade of potter and tiled stove maker.

The entire situation surrounding this trial is beyond bizarre and shows that the boundaries between self-defense and bodily harm are sometimes difficult to define. The outcome of the proceedings remains to be seen, but Vienna's town hall has an exciting courtroom drama.

The trial is being followed with great media attention, and the question remains: How will the newly formed jury evaluate the evidence and testimony? The next few days of negotiations promise to continue to raise many questions.