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Austrian axe killer sentenced to life in prison
Nov 8, 2008, 6:37 GMT
Vienna - A 39-year-old Austrian who says he hacked five family members to death out of shame at losing money on the stock market was convicted of murder Friday and sentenced to life in prison.
A jury court in Vienna found the man guilty of killing his wife, seven-year-old daughter, parents and stepfather in May.
The defendant, a public relations manager, had run up 350,000 euros (450,000 dollars) in debt after playing the stock market for years, the court heard.
He told the court he had wanted to secure a better life for his family and killed them rather than acknowledge financial ruin.
'He's a coward,' prosecutor Michael Radasztics told the trial. 'Instead of stepping forward and coming clean, he preferred to kill his family.'
A court-appointed expert concluded that while the defendant was disturbed, he was not legally insane when he killed.
The man's lawyer said he may appeal Friday's verdict.
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