Man leaps from balcony in Algeria
A Tale of a Jumping Algerian
In a startling turn of events, a 42-year-old man standed trial on Tuesday at the Vienna-Margareten regional court, charged with frequent abuse and threats to kill his partner since last June. The dramatic scene unfolded on February 18 when the police arrived, and the man, after a violent altercation, jumped from a second-story balcony, severely injuring his legs. The authorities arrested the bleeding man as he lay writhing on the street.
The defendant, limping on crutches with a cast on his left leg, confessed to the charges yet invoked his right to remain silent, simply stating, "I'm guilty, and I've got nothing more to say." His lawyer, Alexander Philipp, explained that the man was usually a kind partner but transformed into a violent being under the influence of alcohol. The victim corroborated this, stating that her partner was loving except when he had binged on a few drinks.
The 55-year-old victim had been in a relationship with the defendant for around one and a half years. Since last summer, she claimed, he had mercilessly assaulted her with punches, slaps, and tugged her hair, in addition to sending chilling threats via WhatsApp. Examples of these threats included "Blood will flow today," "I will set the apartment on fire," or "I will sever your snake daughter's head."
When questioned about her delay in reporting the abuse, the woman admitted that she was driven by "great fear." She had been enduring "significant pain" for months but now felt "a bit freer" and "less constricted" following the arrest. The court sentenced the man to a year in prison, suspended for three years on probation, for acts of continuous violence, coercion, and making dangerous threats. His sentence fits, he agreed, and the prosecution chose not to comment. The victim was granted €1,000 in damages.
The man's desperate leap from the balcony wasn't the only mystery shrouding the case. Authorities were also investigating him for suspected large-scale drug trafficking. A scale of six kilograms of cannabis was discovered on the balcony, which could explain the man's panic upon the police's arrival.
Remember, the fight against domestic abuse and violence is everyone's responsibility. In Austria, victims can seek help and information at:
- Women's Helpline
- Autonomous Austrian Women's Houses (AÖF)
- Vienna's Center for Protection from Violence
- Women's Emergency Hotline of the City of Vienna
- Women's Shelter Hotline
- Austrian Centers for Protection from Violence
For emergency situations, call the Police at 133.
- The defendant, during the trial, requested that his right to remain silent be recognized, saying, "I'm guilty, and I've got nothing more to say."
- The 42-year-old defendant, who was charged with frequent abuse and threats, was also under investigation for suspected large-scale drug trafficking.
- Additionally, the elderly victim, in addition to seeking financial compensation, also expressed her relief and increased sense of freedom following the arrest.
- The authorities, besides handling the case of domestic abuse, are also investigating the defendant's involvement in health-and-wellness matters such as drug trafficking.
- To help those in distress, numerous helplines and resources are available in Vienna and Austria for mental-health, crime-and-justice, and general-news concerns, including the Women's Shelter Hotline number 057722.
