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Key found with body solved Tyrol murder mystery

Police have solved the mystery of a body found in Tyrol earlier this month - the victim was a Greek man who was murdered by a fellow Greek who was having an affair with his wife.

Published: 21 November 2016 10:45 CET
Key found with body solved Tyrol murder mystery
Photo: Paul Gillingwater

The 28-year-old suspect confessed to Austrian authorities that he killed Antonis Christofakis, 31, whose body was found in a ditch at a car park near Söll. It had 11 bullet wounds.

The lawyer of suspect Giorgos Vlachopoulos has said it was a crime of passion, as his client was having an affair with the victim’s wife, a German citizen. Both Vlachopoulos and his lover face charges of premeditated murder and are in police custody.

Police in Munich say the victim's told them that her husband was violent towards her, and that she and her lover plotted to kill him so that they could live together. Police think they had been planning the murder for months, and then drove to Austria where they planned to dump the body in a ravine.

Austrian police found the key to a rental car with Christofakis’s body. This led them to a car rental firm in Munich where they were given Vlachopoulos’s name and the address of an apartment which turned out to belong to him. When police searched the apartment, thinking it belonged to the victim, they found the murder weapon. Austrian detective Walter Pupp said that “in the true sense of the word, the key found with the victim was ultimately the key to our success.”

Christofakis had left his home in Siva, Crete, along with his wife and six-year-old daughter, to work in Munich. 

28-year-old Vlachopoulos was arrested in Munich, but will be extradited to Austria.

 

CRIME

UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible ‘threat’ to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Viennese police have confirmed they are investigating a possible - and unspecified - threat to the popular shopping centre in the city's 22nd district.

Published: 29 April 2024 17:32 CEST
UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible 'threat' to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Vienna police confirmed they are investigating a non-specified threat to the Donau Zentrum shopping centre, located in the Austrian capital’s 22nd district, a spokesperson told The Local. 

On Monday, pictures of an alleged internal document sent by the shopping centre to tenants circulated on social media and messaging apps. The document stated there was a “threat against the Westfield Donau Zentrum for April 30, 2024”. It stated that the authorities had been working to identify suspects since yesterday.

“The source of the threat is a photo circulating online”, the statement said without giving further details. “If we receive additional information or specifications, we will immediately inform you”, it added.

“There is currently no reason for you as an employee to worry as we are strictly following police guidelines”, the document said. It was signed by a manager of the shopping centre. The Local reached out to Donau Zentrum media representatives, who confirmed a threat against the centre.

“The Center Management of Westfield Donau Zentrum can confirm a threat against the center and is in ongoing communication with the relevant authorities. We are taking the situation seriously. The safety of everyone in the center is our top priority. After coordination with the authorities, the center will be open as usual today”, they said.

The Vienna police confirmed the veracity of the statement and added, “We are aware of the matter and are investigating,” they replied after an inquiry on their official social media channels. The Local reached out to the press office for further clarification but has not yet received a response.

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