Austrian duke ‘blasts three relatives to death with a shotgun at the family castle during an argument over inheritance’
- Duke Anton von Goess arrested for killing three family members at their castle
- Austrian duke alleged to have used shotgun on father, stepmother and brother
- Count Johannes Ulrich, 92, wife Margherita, 87, and Ernst, 52, all found dead
- Duke alleged to have confessed to killing in Mistelbach, Austrian media report
An Austrian duke shot three members of his family dead during a row over inheritance at their castle, prosecutors claim.
Count Anton von Goess, 54, the owner of Bockfliess Castle in Mistelbach, Lower Austria, allegedly blasted his 92-year-old father Count Johannes Ulrich, stepmother Margherita, 87, and brother Ernst, 52, with a shotgun.
Von Goess was arrested by police on suspicion of murder, and has allegedly confessed to the killings, which took place n the Bockfliess Castle’ offices last Thursday, local news report.
According to the police, all victims were shot at close range and a hunting rifle was found at the scene.
Duke Anton von Goess, 54, was arrested by Austrian police officers on suspicion of murdering his father, step-mother and brother
Police at the scene at Bockfliess Castle in Mistelbach last Thursday. The alarm was raised by a woman who allegedly became suspicious after she heard noises that sounded like ‘bangs’
The alarm was raised by a woman who allegedly became suspicious after she heard noises that sounded like ‘bangs’ on Thursday afternoon.
The police refused to comment on a possible motive, citing the importance of ongoing investigations.
A lawyer acting for the Duke, who also goes by the nickname ‘Tono’, claimed he suffered headaches from terminal tumours, that caused ‘a certain amount of confusion to set in’, Peter Philipp told Austrian news site OE24.
Mr Philipp also said his client will defend the charge as ‘it has to be clarified whether my client was sane or not’ due to his ‘outer and inner tumours’.
Residents in the market town claim that the nobleman may have killed his brother in a dispute over family inheritance.
Neighbours said that the once-wealthy Goess family is in financial dire straits and has had to sell off property.
Neighbours of the family in the Austrian market town claim that the nobleman could have killed his brother in a dispute over family inheritance
Father Johannes Ulrich von Goess reportedly burdened his sons with the financial problems, which allegedly resulted in repeated fights between Count Tono and his brother Ernst.
A neighbour said: ‘We can hardly believe it. Everyone thought that they had a lot of money and no problems, but it turned out that they have some financial issues.’
But locals also said that Tono von Goess was a friendly and helpful person who always behaved respectfully towards the townsfolk.
Investigators are now trying to recreate what played out in Bockfliess Castle in the final hours before the murders.
Count Tono was found to be online at 2.44am, sharing a video on social media about a neurosurgeon dancing with his patients.
A lawyer acting for Count von Goess claims he suffers from headaches due to tumours and an assessment of his mental health will be carried out
The Austrian duke frequently used social media to discuss politics and had showed a recent interest in the yellow vests movement in France and vouched his support for Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the government’s anti-immigration laws.
The Goess family originates in Portugal, from where they moved via the Belgian region of Flanders to Austria in the 16th Century.
In 1530, the Habsburg monarchy, which ruled across the region from 1415 to 1806, gave the Goess family noble titles and land.
They have estates and castles all over Austria, with most properties found in the state of Carinthia where even an entire mountain is owned by the Goess family.
The investigation is ongoing.