- After a home invasion, the defendant admits to involvement.
After a robbery **with two injured, three of the suspected perpetrators stand trial at the Berlin Regional Court. The defendants, aged 21, 34, and 42, along with another accomplice, are accused of breaking into an apartment in Berlin-Köpenick and initially staging a police raid. Using a crowbar, they injured two of the four people present during the incident nearly five months ago. The perpetrators allegedly demanded money and drugs, according to the indictment.
In the trial for aggravated robbery and dangerous bodily harm, the three defendants admitted their involvement in the robbery but denied using violence. The 34-year-old explained that the incident in March was about "collecting money," claiming it was a demand from the separately charged accomplice. "I thought we were just standing behind him, creating a threatening presence," he said. He claimed to have seen no weapons or other dangerous objects.
Police arrested the perpetrators shortly after the robbery.
The other defendants also stated they had not seen a crowbar and had not struck anyone with their fists. The 42-year-old said he had been told beforehand that the residents were students, and one had not paid their debts. However, the police arrived shortly after they entered the apartment.
According to the indictment, one of the victims was struck in the jaw with a crowbar, and another was injured in the rib area and by punches. The perpetrators allegedly fled with around 500 euros in cash. The three defendants were arrested shortly after the incident, and two of the men have been in custody since then. The trial will continue on August 7.
The police's swift action led to the arrest of the perpetrators shortly after the theft. Despite initially denying the use of violence, the defendants were charged with inflicting dangerous bodily harm during the robbery.
