Train pusher denies intent to kill at Zurich main station
Published: Tuesday, Dec 12th 2023, 13:40
Updated At: Tuesday, Dec 12th 2023, 13:40
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A 30-year-old has admitted to pushing a woman onto the train tracks at Zurich main station in 2021. The mentally ill Eritrean man told the court that he had heard voices in his head. His defense lawyer pleaded for the man to be allowed to stay in Switzerland.
He was not aware that a train was approaching, the defendant told the Zurich High Court on Tuesday. He did not know the woman, she was a random victim.
The 30-year-old did not have an actual explanation as to why he pushed this particular woman in the incident in May 2021. The voices in his head had been giving him orders and he had been very stressed. He had previously been in Geneva, where he had "complained" to various embassies, also at the command of the voices.
The woman returned to the platform before the train reached her. The lower court had sentenced the Eritrean man to five years and ten months' imprisonment for attempted murder and other offenses. He also received a fine and a fine. Due to his mental illness, the prison sentence was postponed in favor of inpatient treatment.
Fight against expulsion
The defense lawyer denied the charge of attempted murder. His client had not deliberately pushed the woman in front of a train, which was even further away. Moreover, he had only been traveling at a speed of 10 km/h and had been able to brake in time. According to the defense lawyer, the amount of the sentence hardly took into account the fact that the accused was almost completely incapacitated.
The man also faces deportation. The lower court had sentenced him to eight years. The 30-year-old was at risk in Eritrea as a deserter and fugitive, said the defense lawyer.
The accused told the court that he had witnessed atrocities. He had been sent to prison at the age of 11 and drafted into the military at the age of 13. He was forced to watch colleagues being killed and was tortured in prison. He was in the military until 2014. He has lived in Switzerland since 2016.
It was clear to the defense attorney that his client was a hardship case due to his previous history. He was also making progress in the clinic. With the right care and medication for his paranoid schizophrenia, he posed no danger.
Request for last chance
In addition to the charge of attempted murder, the 30-year-old is accused of various other offenses. For example, he is alleged to have negligently started a fire in his room and disturbed a church service.
He had acted in this way because of his illness, the accused had it translated. "Today I know how bad it must have been for others. I want to apologize for that," he said. He asked the judges for one last chance to stay in Switzerland.
The judges were unable to reach a verdict on Tuesday. It is expected to be opened orally in January.
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