As of: February 28, 2024, 1:06 p.m
By: Julia Stanton
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The father of six-year-old Leon has been in custody for over a year.
He is accused of murdering his son.
(Symbolic image) © picture alliance / dpa
Two years ago Leon died under mysterious circumstances.
So far, his father has been in custody as a suspect.
A defense report will now prove his innocence.
Innsbruck – Six-year-old Leon was found dead in the Kitzbüheler Ache near St. Johann in Tirol in August 2022.
His death has been a mystery ever since.
The case is still not resolved.
His father has been in custody for over a year.
But his lawyer has now filed an application for release from custody.
He is said to have evidence that suggests a different course of events.
Mysterious death of Leon from Tyrol: Unanswered questions make father the main suspect
The father became the main suspect in the case in 2023 because his description of the events raised questions.
After his son's death, he claimed that an unknown perpetrator knocked him unconscious with a bottle while he was walking with his son.
It was initially assumed that the child died because he climbed out of his stroller and fell into the river.
An autopsy could not prove that the boy had been subjected to violence.
The father was in hospital with injuries.
But since there was no trace of a possible perpetrator, the Supreme Court (OGH) took a closer look at the father.
Incriminating evidence was found on his cell phone found at the crime scene.
The man is said to have been researching the keyword “fainting” at the time of the crime.
In addition, his step count suggested that he could have disposed of his cell phone independently.
In September 2023, the Innsbruck regional court decided that the father should remain in custody.
However, there was no clear evidence to incriminate him.
Turning point in the case of dead Leon: private report should refute previous evidence
The father's defense attorney has now submitted four new requests for evidence to the public prosecutor's office.
It's mainly about evaluating the suspect's cell phone: “We commissioned a private report in Munich.
This clearly refutes the previous evaluations by the State Criminal Police Office,” the lawyer explained to the
Tiroler Tageszeitung.
oe24
reports on this
.
According to the defense attorney, it is not at all certain that the father googled the word fainting.
The chronological reconstruction of the events would also not fit.
The lawyer also doubts that his client harmed himself and criticized the violation of the presumption of innocence.
Further details about the report will be revealed at a press conference in Innsbruck on Thursday (February 29).
The lawyer announced that he wanted to uncover “a whole series of arguments, facts and questionable conclusions made by the investigating authorities”.
(jus)