Austrian Pensioner Ordered to Pay €3,900 for False facebook Accusation Following Graz Shooting
Eisenstadt, Austria – A 65-year-old man from Burgenland has agreed to pay approximately €3,900 in installments to a 22-year-old from Styria after falsely identifying him as the perpetrator of the June shooting in Graz.The case concluded Tuesday at the regional court in eisenstadt with a settlement, according to the Styrian lawyer representing the young man. The lawsuit will be withdrawn upon receipt of the first payment.
Following the tragic shooting at the Borg Dreierschützengasse school, which claimed the lives of nine students and a teacher, the 22-year-old was repeatedly and incorrectly named online as the gunman. The pensioner then amplified this misinformation by publishing the man’s name in a Facebook post. He was afterward charged with defamation (“bad recovery” in the original reporting).
During the court proceedings,the pensioner expressed remorse,stating,”I posted that in the first anger and in the first hatred.” He testified that he quickly realized his error and apologized to the 22-year-old,adding,”I made a mistake. I stand by that.”
The man explained that he was deeply affected by the Graz shooting, particularly as he was anticipating becoming a grandfather. The relatively low amount of compensation was determined in consideration of his financial circumstances.
The 22-year-old victim has indicated he intends to pursue further legal action against others who spread false accusations online. Similar cases are currently underway across Austria, as his name and image were falsely linked to the Graz shooting in numerous online posts. This case highlights the growing legal challenges surrounding online defamation and the rapid spread of misinformation in the wake of tragic events.
