A woman in Austria has been found guilty of fatally infecting her neighbor with COVID-19 in 2021, her second pandemic-related conviction in a year, according to local media
VIENNA — A woman in Austria was found guilty of fatally infecting her neighbor with COVID-19 in 2021, her second pandemic-related conviction in a year, according to local media. A judge sentenced the 54-year-old on Thursday to four months’ suspended imprisonment and an 800-euro fine ($886.75) for grossly negligent homicide.
The victim, who was also a cancer patient, died of pneumonia that was caused by the coronavirus, according to Austrian news agency APA. A virological report showed that the virus DNA matched both the deceased and the 54-year-old woman, proving that the defendant “almost 100 percent” transmitted it, an expert told the court.
“I feel sorry for you personally — I think that something like this has probably happened hundreds of times,” the judge said Thursday. “But you are unlucky that an expert has determined with almost absolute certainty that it was an infection that came from you.”
While the judge issued the sentence Thursday, APA reported that the verdict isn’t yet final. The names of the victim and defendant were not released in line with Austrian privacy rules.
The woman was convicted of a COVID-related offense last summer, APA reported. The agency said she was sentenced to three months’ suspended imprisonment for intentionally endangering people through communicable diseases. But she was acquitted on the grossly negligent homicide charge at that time.
This week, the judge heard statements from the deceased’s family, who said there had been contact in a stairwell between the neighbors on Dec. 21, 2001 — when the defendant would already have known she had COVID-19. But she denied the meeting, saying she was too sick to get out of bed that day. She also said she believed she had bronchitis, which she typically gets every year.
But the woman’s doctor told police that the defendant had tested positive with a rapid test and told him that she “certainly won’t let herself be locked up” after the result.
In a shocking turn of events, an Austrian woman has been convicted for causing her neighbor’s death from a COVID-19 infection. The woman, whose name has not been released to the public, was found guilty of negligence and recklessness in a court of law.
The incident occurred in the small town of Graz, Austria, where the woman and her neighbor lived in the same apartment building. According to reports, the woman had been exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 for several days before she was diagnosed with the virus. Despite knowing she was infected, she continued to interact with her neighbors, including the victim who was in his 70s and had underlying health conditions.
Tragically, the neighbor contracted the virus from the woman and ultimately succumbed to the illness. His death was a devastating blow to his family and the community at large. The woman’s actions were deemed to be reckless and negligent, as she knowingly put others at risk by not following quarantine protocols and failing to inform those around her of her condition.
The court’s decision to convict the woman sends a strong message about the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of taking necessary precautions to prevent its spread. While it may be easy to dismiss the virus as a mild illness for some, it can have deadly consequences for others, especially those who are elderly or have underlying health conditions.
This case serves as a stark reminder that we all have a responsibility to do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. This includes following public health guidelines, practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and staying home if we are feeling unwell. By taking these simple steps, we can protect ourselves and those around us from this deadly virus.
As we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, let this case serve as a cautionary tale of the potential consequences of negligence and recklessness in the face of a global health crisis. We must all work together to keep our communities safe and prevent further tragedies like the one that occurred in Graz.
