She explained in the daily newspapers “Krone” and “Heute” that her husband had not threatened her and that a psychiatric emergency service would have been needed instead of a police operation. The Burgenland State Police Directorate referred to the ongoing investigations. The police were alerted on Friday afternoon due to a family dispute, according to a statement from the state police headquarters in the evening. When he arrived at the scene, the 55-year-old first threatened his wife and the two law enforcement officers with a machete and injured one of them. When the alleged perpetrator could not be calmed down, service weapons were used – which resulted in him being fatally shot. The result of the autopsy that was subsequently ordered was not yet public on Monday morning.
“Machete for gardening”
The widow of the man killed criticized the police. Her husband was an “artist, actor and environmental activist”. He called the emergency number himself on Friday and described his mental state. When the police arrived, she went to the garden gate and explained that they needed a psychiatric emergency service. Then her husband stood behind her with the “machete for gardening” in his hand, which he placed on the garden gate. “He never threatened me,” explained the 60-year-old.
The spokesman for the Burgenland State Police Directorate, Helmut Marban, referred to the ongoing investigations into the matter. He cannot anticipate the results. In addition to the public prosecutor’s investigations, the internal investigations are conducted by the Vienna State Criminal Police Office.
