2023-11-23 18:47:57
It is an extremely tragic case that was heard on Thursday afternoon at the Saint Johann district court. The two defendants have not confessed. The trial was adjourned to December 11th.
The fact is: Ten months ago, in January 2023, an 81-year-old woman fell from the balcony of her apartment on the second floor of an apartment building in Bad Gastein; The balcony railing had been dismantled by a locksmith company. Six days later, the woman who fell 6.5 meters died in hospital.
The public prosecutor subsequently filed a criminal complaint for negligent homicide against two men from the company – a foreman and a project manager. The two are accused of “disregarding the building regulations regarding fall protection” and thus violating their duty of care.
The background: At that time, the locksmith company was commissioned by the Gswb, as the owner of the apartment block, to replace the balcony and staircase railings. However, this started earlier than agreed – the company dismantled all the balcony railings and the handles on the balcony doors were also removed – but not in all apartments. Nobody could be reached in that of the 81-year-old senior citizen and in two other apartments, which is why the handles there were not removed. The investigation revealed that in these three apartments only a note was stuck to the balcony doors stating that entering the balcony was prohibited. The 81-year-old, who is said to have had poor eyesight, obviously did not read the notice.
Criminal complaint: The accused disregarded building regulations
The foreman was now accused in the trial of not having installed legally required fall protection, “knowing that the apartment was inhabited and no one could be reached”, but of merely hanging up a notice. The project manager, in turn, failed to provide fall protection when planning and implementing the construction project.
In the trial, led by judge Christa Moser, the two accused did not confess. According to regional court spokesman Peter Egger, the trial was postponed to December 11th on Thursday evening at 7:15 p.m. More witnesses are being questioned.
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