A 16-year-old must be imprisoned for eight years.
In November of last year, shots were fired at a school in Offenburg. A 16-year-old shoots a classmate. The court is now sentencing the minor offender - in the absence of the public. Meanwhile, speculation continues about the motive.
In the trial for the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old in a classroom at an Offenburg school, the Juvenile Court sentenced the defendant to eight years and nine months of juvenile detention. The Juvenile Chamber found the 16-year-old guilty of murder and attempted serious arson, as the Baden-Württemberg Court in Offenburg announced.
The Chamber considered it proven that the teenager came to the school on November 9, 2023, with a pistol, ammunition, and a self-made incendiary device, and shot a classmate there. The victim was reportedly unarmed and defenseless - the defendant had therefore acted treacherously. The defendant had also attempted to ignite the incendiary device to burn down the school building.
The violent death of the student at the special educational Waldbachschool caused mourning and shock beyond the regional level. The defendant, a German, reportedly had 41 rounds of ammunition with him.
The weapon used in the crime came from the home of his parents. A father, who was present at the school for a parents' meeting at the time of the attack, overpowered the attacker and prevented further harm. Sabah Tamer Ayoub was later honored for his heroic actions.
Motive remained unclear
As the highest sentence in this case, the prosecution had previously threatened ten years in prison. In Germany, juveniles are criminally responsible from the age of 14. Juvenile detention is a specifically regulated form of imprisonment for juveniles and young adults. A motive for the violent act was also not clear after the verdict - rumors circulated among circles about jealousy.
The trial before the Juvenile Chamber of the court had been ongoing since mid-April, including the announcement of the verdict, there were twelve court days, according to a court spokeswoman. Visitors and media representatives were excluded from the proceedings throughout due to juvenile protection. The juvenile was reportedly in pre-trial detention prior to the trial.
The International Criminal Court may take interest in this case as an example of juvenile involvement in murder and manslaughter, highlighting the need for stricter international justice processes in dealing with such heinous crimes. The absence of a clear motive in this case underscores the importance of thorough international investigations to uncover the true reasons behind such violent acts.
