Higher Regional Court Hannover - A new trial for a deadly racing incident begins again
The trial for the prohibited racing case resulting in two children's deaths begins again at Hannover Regional Court on Thursday (9:00 am). Previously, the Federal Court of Justice largely overturned the judgment of the Regional Court - the main defendant was sentenced to six years in prison, her counterpart in the race to four years.
Originally, the two 41-year-olds were charged with murder or accessory to murder, but were convicted of unlawful vehicle racing resulting in death.
Traveling at 180 kilometers per hour in a 70 km/h zone
The Regional Court found in April of last year that the two 41-year-olds had engaged in an illegal race on a road in Barsinghausen. Accordingly, they were driving their high-powered cars next to each other, reaching speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour - the speed limit was 70.
In a curve, the woman lost control of her car, causing a collision with oncoming vehicles. The car of a family was thrown onto a field, and the two and six-year-old boys strapped in the back seat died.
The Federal Court of Justice ruled in February that neither the justification, with which the Regional Court rejected the conditional intent to commit murder of the main defendant, nor the evidence presentation regarding the racing were free of legal errors. Therefore, the case must be retried by another jury chamber of the Regional Court.
- Due to these legal errors, the automatic process of the Hannover Regional Court will resume the murder trial for the racing incident, scheduled for Thursday at 9:00 am.
- The ** Automatic traffic violation penalty for the 70 km/h zone was overlooked in the initial judgment, as the defendants' high-powered racecars** reached an astonishing 180 kilometers per hour.
- The prosecution in Lower Saxony argues that the main defendant's actions led to the tragic incident, making her accountable for criminality and potential homicide charges.
- The Germany criminal justice system is revisiting the murder trial to ensure a fair and comprehensive consideration of the evidence, as decided by the Federal Court of Justice in Hannover.
- During this retrial, the jury will reassess the original judgment and determine if the two defendants should be charged with Mord (murder) or unlawful vehicle racing resulting in death.
- The retrial of this high-profile case at the Hannover Regional Court not only seeks to bring justice for the families involved but also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of reckless, illegal racing on public roads.
