The men, aged 23, 24 and 25, were accused of grossly negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm. They pleaded guilty. A 23-year-old friend died in Klausen-Leopoldsdorf (Baden district) when a ball bomb was detonated.
Illegal fireworks from the Czech Republic
According to the indictment, the 23- and 24-year-olds had bought fireworks together with the later fatality in the Czech Republic, which are illegal in Austria, and illegally brought them across the border. At a private New Year’s Eve party, they then ignored the warnings on the packaging, constructed an improper launch device and detonated the ball bomb, although none of them had the necessary knowledge, the prosecutor explained. The firecracker exploded immediately after the 23-year-old ignited it, killing him. He died of an open traumatic brain injury with respiratory and cerebral palsy. Another friend was seriously injured.
The 25-year-old, who was charged with the other two, was not present when the ball bomb was bought, but hosted the New Year’s Eve party and helped with the launch construction and ignition. He himself, like the 24-year-old second accused, was also injured in the pyro accident. As members of the volunteer fire brigade, the young men should have known better, the prosecutor argued.
“The biggest stupid thing we’ve ever done”
All three confessed in court and apologized. It was “the biggest nonsense we’ve ever done”. They would all have lost their best friend that night. “I’m still terribly sorry, I miss him every day, but unfortunately you can’t help it,” said the 23-year-old. “We will certainly never do that again.” Lawyer Nikolaus Rast emphasized that there was no explanation for “why it happened, something like this shouldn’t happen”. The victim himself detonated the ball bomb.
The probationary period for the conditional prison sentences is three years, judge Christina Kuzmany explained to the accused: “You are no longer allowed to rub shoulders with us.” All three were also fined. The judgment is final.
Source: Nachrichten
