In a landmark case in Austria, a 54-year-old woman has been convicted for the death of her neighbor, who succumbed to COVID-19 after allegedly contracting the virus from her.

The court in Klagenfurt found her guilty of grossly negligent homicide, sentencing her to a four-month suspended prison term and a fine of 800 euros.

This decision, which is not yet final, marks a significant legal precedent in holding individuals accountable for virus transmission.

The case hinged on virological evidence showing a near-perfect match between the virus strains of the accused and the deceased, a rare occurrence given the rapid mutation of coronaviruses.

The woman, who had previously been convicted for endangering others by ignoring quarantine rules, denied the charges, claiming she believed she had bronchitis.

The court, however, ruled that the evidence was sufficient for a conviction, highlighting the complexities of legal responsibility during a pandemic.