Pyro accident with 2 deaths in Ternitz: Quartet pleaded not guilty

2023-11-13 12:11:00

The quartet, aged 17 to 20, was accused of grossly negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm, but pleaded not guilty. The two male defendants had suffered serious injuries themselves.

Illegal fireworks from the Czech Republic

A New Year’s Eve celebration “unfortunately came to a tragic end,” said the public prosecutor in the opening speech. According to the criminal complaint, on December 29th, the defendants – brothers aged 18 and 20 and two female teenagers aged 17 and 18 – traveled to the Czech Republic with one of the later deceased, where they illegally bought fireworks. Those involved lacked the specialist knowledge to properly detonate the two ball bombs.

The ball bombs were placed in plastic pipes on a meadow in Ternitz on New Year’s Eve and one of the people who later died is said to have detonated them. There was no incident with the smaller firecracker. “The second ignition was the devastating and fatal one,” said the prosecutor.

Ball bomb detonated immediately

The larger ball bomb detonated immediately. “None of us had the opportunity to turn around or run away,” said the 20-year-old first defendant. When he opened his eyes again after the explosion, he saw fire. An 18-year-old who was in the immediate vicinity died on the spot. A man of the same age died in hospital from his injuries a few days after the incident. The two male defendants were taken to the intensive care unit with serious injuries.

The brothers’ lawyer spoke of an “incredibly tragic case” and said it was a case of “youthful recklessness that ended in tragedy.” His clients have confessed to the facts. Legally, however, the events should be classified as “participation in endangering one’s own self,” the defense attorney and the 17-year-old’s lawyer referred to a Supreme Court decision and requested an acquittal.

“I wasn’t aware of the danger”

The 18-year-old also did not confess. The fact that the other young people wanted to buy fireworks was only discussed in the car, said their defense attorney. There was no common plan, he replied to the prosecutor’s statements. The girls went shopping and drinking coffee while the bullet bombs were being purchased, the lawyer said; The two female defendants also did not take part in any preparatory actions for the ignition. His client is not accused of any criminal offense.

The 18-year-old had been present when the ball bombs were purchased and knew that they were illegal fireworks. “I didn’t think it could end up so extreme,” he said. The 18-year-old could no longer say to what extent he was involved in the ignition. According to his statement, his brother only saw the fireworks “on the way to the pipe” on New Year’s Eve. “I wasn’t aware of the danger at that moment,” but in retrospect that was “definitely” the case, said the 20-year-old. The two brothers had not seen the warning notice in German. According to his statement, the two girls had observed the bombs being detonated from further away, and they were neither involved nor nearby when they bought them.

“I had a strange feeling”

According to her, the 18-year-old found out about the bullet bombs shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve. The defendant was therefore not involved in the preparation for the ignition. She was asked to film. “I had a strange feeling,” said the accused. That’s why she asked the others not to detonate the second ball bomb. As a result of the incident, the 18-year-old said she is now afraid and panicked when firecrackers are fired. She also appealed to a school class that was in the audience to keep their distance from fireworks and to leave lighting to experts with specialist knowledge. “I don’t want anyone to see pictures of what happened,” said the single judge.

The hearing will continue after a lunch break. Witnesses should also be questioned after the fourth defendant. The trial against the four innocent defendants, all of whom are Austrian citizens, is scheduled for one day. If convicted, you could face up to three years in prison.