Salzburg Austria - On Friday a 42-year-old man was before the regional court for blocking a Pinzgauer Lokalbahn train in Niedernsill last spring.
 
There wasn't an accident at that time because the driver stopped the train.
 
The prosecution said it was a deliberate act.
 
The defendant, without work, with five criminal convictions, and also a considerable alcohol problem, is supposed to have damaged a switch on 4 Feb 2014.
 
He unlocked the box in the morning, opened the cover, and forced five fist-sized stones into the gear wheel drive.
 
Then he tore an electric cable apart, which ultimately proved to be a stroke of luck.
 
This caused the signal for the switch to fail, an indication of a malfunction, so the train driver was able to stop in time.
 
"This is like a red light for drivers, trains can not go on when there is no light," said a witness at the trial.
 
"At best, it would have crushed the stones, in the worst case the train would have derailed," reported a Pinzgauer Lokalbahn driver.
 
Two cars, which were mostly filled with school children, were able to pass the switch at a slow pace.
 
42-Year-Old Denies Allegations
 
The 42-year-old denied the allegations vehemently on Friday.
 
He said he had by no means been in Niedernsill on that day.
 
However, half a dozen witnesses said they had clearly recognized him on that morning.
 
The defendant was seen not only on the tracks, but also purchasing some cans of beer.
 
He was recognized by his striking blue-neon yellow jacket.
 
This, incidentally, threw a monkey wrench into the judicial process for judge Madeleine Vilsecker was only presented with black and white photos.
 
The Trial was Postponed
 
In the afternoon, the trial was postponed until mid-January to hear more witnesses.
 
At the same time, a court psychiatrist was charged with drawing up an opinion on the psychological state of the defendant at the time of the crime.
 
The defendant was in custody before the trial, because he did not appear for the first court at the end of October.
 
He now has the right to submit an application for release.
 
According to information from the regional court, the next trial date will take place on 19 Jan 2015.
 
Author unknown.