A couple in their 20s in Austria has been sentenced to life in prison for allegedly starving their three-year-old son to death.
According to the local media outlet Der Standard, the Innsbruck Regional Court on the 9th (local time) sentenced the 27-year-old couple to life imprisonment for charges of murder, abuse, and false imprisonment, and ordered the wife to be admitted to a forensic treatment facility.
Judge Andreas Mayer explained that while he considered mitigating factors such as the couple’s confession, lack of prior convictions, and the lengthy trial process, the aggravating factors were overwhelmingly numerous.
The couple’s son was found dead on May 19, 2024, in their home in the border city of Kufstein. The three-year-old boy weighed only 4kg, equivalent to a four-month-old infant.
Forensic expert Elke Doberenz determined that the child had been healthy based on the condition of his organs.
She testified, “It was evident at first glance that he died from hunger and thirst. His face looked like that of an elderly person, and his body was nothing but skin and bones.”
The couple had three other daughters aged 1, 3, and 6, but none of them showed signs of malnutrition.
Based on chat and email records, prosecutors concluded that the couple had retreated into a world of delusions after experiencing financial difficulties, believing that their deceased son was possessed by a demon.
They allegedly abused the child to ensure a painful death, believing that the demon’s power was tied to the boy’s physical condition.
Prosecutors added that the couple encouraged each other and took pleasure in their actions.
The defense argued that the wife had been exposed to severe neglect and violence in her childhood and was under mental pressure due to unwanted pregnancies, claiming that the crime was not a coldly calculated act. A psychiatric evaluation determined that despite clear and persistent disorders, the wife was in a state of criminal responsibility.
The husband, who reported his son’s death to the police, expressed remorse in court, saying, “I have no way to explain my actions.” He also apologized for allowing their other children to witness their son’s death and suffering.
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