Trial Winterthur court sends near-murderer behind bars for a long time
On Thursday, the Winterthur district court sentenced a 24-year-old to 18 years' imprisonment for attempted murder. He assaulted a woman out for a walk and then tried to kill her.
13.02.2025, 17:10
13.02.2025, 17:24
SDA
The accused was convicted of attempted murder, rape, sexual assault and endangering life, among other things. He has to complete an outpatient program in prison. The court awarded the victim's relatives compensation of CHF 30,000. The verdict is not yet final.
The victim's statements were decisive for the conviction, said the judge at the opening of the verdict. The few statements made by the accused, who claimed a loss of memory, for example, were not convincing.
The behavior observed by witnesses showed a planned approach, not a confused person, the judge continued. "They were looking for a suitable victim."
Motive remains unclear
The public prosecutor demanded a 20-year prison sentence for the attack in Rickenbach ZH, the defense lawyer nine years in prison. Both felt that the accused should receive therapy in prison.
The 24-year-old had dragged the 63-year-old woman, who was in poor health, into a field and assaulted her. He then told her that he would have to kill her.
The 105-kilo man dropped onto the 70-kilogram lighter woman several times and inflicted extremely serious injuries. She only survived because the senior citizen was able to crawl out into the street and alert a car driver.
The perpetrator's motive remained unclear at the trial. However, he confessed to the crime. An expert witness called him "severely mentally disturbed" and spoke of possible homicide or rape fantasies in the perpetrator.
