Innsbruck: 33-year-old fined €6,000 for Hitler salute in nightclub
A Tyrolean construction worker has been convicted of Nazi glorification and fined following an incident in an Innsbruck club.
Innsbruck: 33-year-old fined €6,000 for Hitler salute in nightclub
A 33-year-old construction worker from Tyrol was convicted on Friday before the Innsbruck district court of violating the Prohibition Act and sentenced to a financial penalty of €6,000. Part of the amount was suspended. An appeal against the ruling is possible.
The incident took place in a club in the state capital as the music fell silent towards the end of the night. The man is said to have made the forbidden gesture of the German Reich at the final piece of music. Initially, it was also reported that he had uttered xenophobic and antisemitic slogans.
However, it emerged in the courtroom that the loud utterances came from another person in the venue. The security staff member of the establishment, who was called as a witness, corrected his original account: the accused did indeed perform the controversial hand gesture, but the abusive remarks came from another visitor. The investigative authorities are now searching for this other perpetrator, as presiding judge Helga Moser stated.
The 33-year-old admitted in court that he could only vaguely recall the details. However, he denied holding xenophobic views. At the time of the incident, he had a blood alcohol level of 2.7 per mille. Due to this state of intoxication, he was found to lack criminal responsibility, which is why the case was not heard before a jury court.
In her ruling, the judge emphasised the serious nature of the act: such behaviour was not a minor offence and absolutely unacceptable.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)