An Austrian woman died after allegedly suffering severe injuries and sexual abuse while she was believed to have been intoxicated, with her husband and another man under investigation.
The 40-year-old woman died on June 26 after being found with serious bleeding injuries at her home, according to Austrian newspaper Der Standard.
Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, while an autopsy was ordered due to the nature of her injuries.
Her 50-year-old husband was arrested on July 2 and subsequently remanded in custody, with prosecutors investigating him for allegedly abusing a defenceless or impaired person resulting in death.
Prosecutors reportedly told CNN that the husband initially claimed his wife’s death was the result of an “accident” during sex.
Another man has since confessed to sexually abusing the woman, including on the night she died, prosecutors said.
Authorities are also investigating whether other men may have been involved in the alleged abuse, including whether sexual encounters were arranged in exchange for payment.
Austrian outlet Krone reported that the husband allegedly boasted about charging €500 for strangers to have sex with his wife.
The case has drawn comparisons with that of Gisèle Pelicot, whose husband was convicted after drugging her and arranging for other men to rape her while she was unconscious.
However, prosecutors have stressed that reports of a wider “rape network” have not been confirmed and remain under investigation.
