A 23-year-old who may have killed a 41-year-old woman from Graz in her apartment two weeks ago could be responsible for another murder: On February 11, a 54-year-old Swiss woman was found dead in her apartment in Zurich. Investigations revealed that she had been killed at least a week earlier.
Investigators speak of “evidence” for a possible connection with the crime in Styria. However, the authorities did not want to provide more detailed information for investigative reasons. In any case, the Zurich public prosecutor’s office has opened criminal proceedings against the man, it said on Monday.
The public prosecutor’s office in Graz confirmed on Monday that these clues to the same perpetrators in Graz and Zurich are now being checked. The cooperation between the two authorities has started, said spokesman Christian Kroschl when asked. Whether a connection can really be made is still “the subject of the investigation”.
Suspect set fire
On the evening of February 6, the 23-year-old Romanian went with his wife in Graz to their apartment near Graz Central Station. There he is said to have killed her with numerous stabs with scissors before setting a fire. He later told investigators that he wanted to kill himself with the fire. Later, however, he decided to leave the apartment again. The flames went out by themselves. However, a neighbor noticed the smoke in the stairwell on Monday morning and alerted the emergency services. They then discovered the woman’s body in the apartment.
It quickly became clear that it must have been an act of violence. The autopsy revealed that the woman had died of internal bleeding from multiple stab wounds. The 23-year-old suspect was arrested hours later. There was apparently blood on his clothing. The suspected murder weapon was found near the home. During interrogation, he confessed to killing the 41-year-old. His motive: “hatred of women”. He stabbed him because the 41-year-old had bummed cigarettes and alcohol from him. That reminded him of his ex-wife, who is said to have “ripped him off,” he said. Now a psychiatric report should clarify, among other things, whether the suspect was sane at the time of the crime. He is in custody in Graz.
Source: Nachrichten
