Shortly before 1:30 p.m., the judge began reading out the file, followed by the closing statements by the public prosecutor and the defense attorney. The jury then retires to deliberate on the question of guilt. The verdict should be expected in the late afternoon.
On the fourth day of the trial, former work colleagues of the architect, long-term friends and acquaintances as well as a former lover and best friend of the accused were found. A psychologist with whom the 65-year-old and his missing wife were in contact was also interviewed.
No body, incriminating evidence
According to the indictment, the man is said to have killed Elisabeth G., who came from Grünburg near Steyr, “in a previously unknown way” and placed her in an unknown location. He denies that and claims to have had nothing to do with the disappearance of the then 31-year-old. After moving out of the family home the previous weekend, on the afternoon of December 6, 2005, she removed the last of her belongings, taking her then two-and-a-half-year-old daughter with her. She then wanted to stay with her father, which the allegedly depressed mother is said to have further upset. Since that day there has been no trace of Elisabeth G.. Prosecutors believe they can prove that she was intentionally killed by the accused that evening.
“I’ve missed him for a year”
The husband approached the psychologist who had been summoned as a witness after his wife had moved out of the marital home and pursued the divorce. “His concern was that he wanted to have the girl with him because he could organize his time freely,” the witness said. The working woman was less flexible in this regard. “But the mother should also have the child,” emphasized the psychologist. She was worried that she would be “put on the psychiatric track” and therefore kept away from her daughter. However, the man countered this fear and confirmed “that she should of course also see the daughter”.
A woman who had originally been interested in a relationship with the accused then spoke in the highest tones. “It was an attempt,” she said, “but I’m unable to relate.” Since then, the accused has been “my best friend”. You could always count on him. “I’ve missed him for a year,” she said. The 65-year-old was arrested again in 2021 on suspicion of murder.
“Humanly Disappointed”
Weiger well to speak was another witness on the defendants. She told the court that she had been intimate with him three times at the time: “And then it turned out that it was a bet, I was humanly disappointed in him.” After some time, their contact details, including their cell phone number, were found at motorway service stations. She assumed that the 65-year-old had scribbled them on the walls. Unknown men interested in sex dates also contacted her.
The accused spoke up after this statement and admitted that he was responsible: “I am ashamed of this. I would like to use the official framework for this today and apologize for it. The 51-year-old woman accepted the apology: “Thank you.”
Source: Nachrichten
