A Zurich court has sentenced a 71-year-old pensioner to assault on a Denner sales network employee. In addition to the fine, due to a criminal record, he must also serve 14 months in prison.
In addition to the fine, he will be revoked the conditional execution of a 14-month prison sentence, writes sda.ch.
The employee had stopped the pensioner around 8pm on February 16, 2021, shortly before leaving the store: He had suspected he had stolen a bottle of water when he bought a kilogram of pear.
But the retiree had not wanted to show his bag. Moreover, he had grabbed his cane with both hands, raised it up and hit the employee in question with all his might, once in the head and once in the hand, the prosecutor described the case in her indictment.
The prosecutor described the event as a simple attack with a dangerous object. She has demanded that the 22-month prison sentence be carried out. Within the sentence, it included the 2019 criminal record.
Lawyers claim misunderstanding
On the other hand, the accused in court stated that he only removed the employee with a stick and did not hit him at all.
While the elderly man's lawyer has said that his client, who has Parkinson's disease, is weak not only because of his age and unstable even when standing. Had he really shaken the cane while still holding the bag of pears and a bag over his shoulder, he would have fallen to the ground. Therefore, it can not even be a blow. The pensioner's lawyer spoke of a "serious and total misunderstanding".
Threats to family
At the time of the incident his son was being prosecuted for murder. In December 2021, the Supreme Court had sentenced the boy to 16.5 years in prison.
He had fired at a gas station in the direction of an opposing group and shot from behind a 30-year-old.
The lawyer stated that threats had been received from the victim's family at that time. The 71-year-old was under emotional pressure, the fear of revenge was great. Hence came this "completely absurd escalation."
The defender assessed the stick attack as a simple attack. He asked the court to impose a fine of 700 francs or a conditional fine on his client.