Vienna - Dieter Althaus, a German state premier, was found guilty of manslaughter by negligence and sentenced to a fine of 33,300 euros (41,900 dollars) by an Austrian court on Tuesday for his involvement in a fatal skiing accident in Austria. In addition, a local court in Irdning ordered the premier of the state of Thuringia to pay a fine of 5,000 euros of compensation to the husband of Beata Christandl, who died on January 1 after colliding with Althaus on a slope in the Austrian province of Styria.
Althaus was tried just one day after the announcement of his indictment, but was represented by a lawyer as he is still recovering from head injuries sustained in the crash. The verdict is not yet in force.
The Austrian Justice Ministry on Tuesday retracted an earlier statement by the prosecution that Althaus had assumed responsibility for the death of Beata Christandl, confirming instead that the text should have said that the politician assumed responsibility for his actions.
Media were virtually excluded from the court proceedings as reporters were informed less than 70 minutes beforehand.
