- Catastrophic blast outside children's area results in imprisonment for 43-year-old individual.
After the detonation of an explosive device outside a child's room in Langenhagen close to Hannover, a 43-year-old woman was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. Judge Petra Simon from the Regional Court of Hannover commented in the verdict, "It was challenging to find a fair punishment." The court believed that the woman showed remorse for her actions. The woman acknowledged the crime, completed anger management training, and made personal improvements, however, the apartment's inhabitants continue to struggle with trauma and therapy, and the property damage was extensive.
The court believed that the woman threw the explosive onto the balcony of the apartment on Christmas Eve, causing the explosion on the window sill near the three-year-old's room. The blast sent the sleeping child out of bed. Though she didn't sustain any physical injuries, "which is quite miraculous," as the judge stated, the child, her mother, and brother required therapy since then. The window and the kid's room were destroyed, and the building suffered significant damages.
According to the judge, the case involved feelings of jealousy. The woman admitted in court that she acted out of wounded pride and never intended to harm anyone. The Polish woman thought that the girl's mother had a relationship with her temporary companion.
Before the crime, there was a dispute within the woman's family. She had drinking liqueur with her older son's friend and claimed that she became "extremely drunk." She then drove to the supposed rival's apartment and threw the explosive device onto the balcony, which she had previously concealed in her son's room.
The court did not fully meet the prosecution and the civil plaintiff's expectations. They had demanded a three-year prison sentence for the woman, while her defense attorney argued for a two-year suspended sentence. The woman's reduced criminal responsibility could not be ruled out due to her alcohol consumption prior to the crime, said the judge. The exact amount she consumed remained unclear.
The convicted woman expressed her desire for a second chance to restore her life during her final statement at the trial. Her defense attorney, Cornelius Pietsch, would first consult with her about legal remedies before making any further decisions. The woman apologized repeatedly, saying, "I am profoundly sorry for what transpired."
The explosive device was thrown onto the balcony on Christmas Eve, leading to the devastating explosion. Due to the incident, the kid's room was significantly damaged, requiring extensive repairs and causing trauma for the family.
