Person leaped off balcony in Algeria
In a shocking turn of events, an Algerian man found himself in court on Tuesday, accused of repeatedly assaulting and threatening to kill his partner for months. The assaults, fueled by alcohol, ended when the 55-year-old victim finally summoned the police after a brutal attack on February 18.
Arriving at the scene, the authorities found the man perched on a second-story balcony. He plunged to the ground, sustaining severe leg injuries. With a cast on his left leg, two crutches for support, and a grim demeanor, he was ushered into the courtroom. There, he confessed to the charges, remaining eerily calm: "I am guilty, and I do not wish to make any further statements."
The defense attorney, Alexander Philipp, attempted to humanize the defendant, presenting him as generally loving when sober. His client's violence was attributed solely to alcohol consumption. The victim corroborated this, stating, "When he hasn't drunk anything, he's a very nice person. But as soon as he's had three or four beers, he loses it."
Their relationship, spanning about one and a half years, was an abusive affair. The man regularly assaulted the victim with punches, slapped her, and yanked her hair. He also sent her threatening messages via WhatsApp, such as "Blood will flow today" or "I will set the apartment on fire." Her mother received messages that promised to "cut off the head of your snake daughter."
Why didn't she call the police earlier? A question that lingered in the courtroom; the victim replied, "I was very scared." For months, she lived with pain and fear, feeling restricted and under pressure.
The court sentenced the 42-year-old man to one year in prison for repeated assault, coercion, and dangerous threats, suspended for three years on probation. He accepted the sentence, and the public prosecutor remained silent at this time. The 55-year-old woman was awarded €1,000 in damages.
However, the man's freedom was short-lived. The public prosecutor is investigating him for suspected large-scale drug trafficking, a crime that might explain his desperate attempt to escape arrest - six kilograms of cannabis were discovered on the balcony. The suspicion of drug trafficking could keep him behind bars despite the suspended sentence.
For anyone facing violence in Austria, there are resources available: The Women's Helpline (0800-222-555, www.frauenhelpline.at), the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Houses (AÖF) (www.aoef.at), Vienna's Violence Protection Center (https://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/wien/), the 24-hour Women's Emergency Hotline of the City of Vienna (01-71719), the Women's Shelter Hotline at 057722, and the Austrian Violence Protection Centers (0800/700-217). Emergency services, like the Police (133), are also available.
In light of the drug trafficking investigation, the man's legal troubles may extend beyond his prison sentence for domestic violence, as large-scale drug trafficking could keep him behind bars. The public prosecutor's focus on this crime may impact the financial situation, as proceeds from such activities are often a source of money in such cases.
