64 km/h too fast Addiction saves son from a good family from jail for the time being

Within four minutes, a 32-year-old is flashed twice in Zurich: once with 34 and once with 64 km/h too much on the speedometer. The fact that the Rolls-Royce driver didn't have to spend two years in jail has to do with his addiction.

Trial at Zurich District Court on 7 November: the defendant is a 32-year-old man who was flashed twice within four minutes in July 2022 in Switzerland's largest city.

First, the offender was traveling out of town on Seestrasse at a speed of at least 84 km/h. Shortly afterwards, he was driving in the opposite direction, but this time he was said to be doing at least 114 km/h. The speed limit is 50 km/h. The man does not have a valid driver's license.

Among other things, this earns him a charge of gross violation of traffic regulations: The public prosecutor's office speaks in court of "blatant speeding" and of a "danger to the safety of other road users" because the accused was traveling at least 64 km/h too fast.

"I don't like being in custody that much"

This is not the first time that the driver has been in trouble with the law because of his driving: There are proceedings against him in Nidwalden, according to Blick. He is also said to be known to the police in Spain. His offences led to his arrest on 4 October 2022, but the son of a good family was released a day later. "I don't really like being in custody," he says in court about the episode.

The defendant does not reveal why he was traveling in his father's Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Instead, he talks about his drug problem: "A psychiatrist diagnosed me with hyperactivity." According to an expert opinion, there is a high risk of relapse. The speeding driver would like to live an abstinent life, but that is "a bit difficult", he testifies.

When he was speeding, however, he was sober, says the 32-year-old. He is remorseful: "I was the biggest asshole, excuse the expression," Blick quotes him as saying. No wonder: both the prosecution and the defense are demanding an unconditional prison sentence of 23 and 18 months respectively, which is to be postponed in each case.

This has to do with the defendant's drug addiction: Both parties want the man to undergo inpatient therapy. The court followed this request: it handed down a two-year prison sentence, which was postponed in favor of inpatient therapy. There is also a 100 franc fine. "If this doesn't work, and it will be tough, there is no way around the prison sentence," warns the judge.