Crime - Deadly attack in Bad Oeynhausen: Charges likely
A month after the fatal attack against a 20-year-old in Bad Oeynhausen, investigations into the crime and motive continue. A spokesperson for the Bielefeld Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the 18-year-old suspect still faces a pressing suspicion of committing manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.
The Syrian suspect, who is in custody, has not made any statements regarding the accusations, according to the spokesperson. Prosecutor Christoph Mackel stated that he is expected to be indicted. The suspect is accused of severely attacking the 20-year-old in the night of June 23rd for reasons yet to be clarified. He is alleged to have struck the victim on the head and kicked him. Philippos died a few days later in the hospital.
A companion of the 20-year-old is also reported to have been attacked during the incident in the spa town's park. An investigation into a possible suspicion of bodily harm against another person is currently being conducted, Mackel reported upon request. There are conflicting statements among the numerous witness reports. The proceedings are described as extensive.
The police investigations are expected to be concluded soon and all files handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Then it will take some time before a decision is made on an indictment, the prosecutor explained. A precise time estimate for this is not possible at the moment.
According to investigators, the suspect arrived in Germany in 2016 as part of a family reunification with parents and siblings. The suspect is reported to have previously come to the attention of the authorities through violent, property, and drug offenses, but is not yet convicted. The suspect will not make any further statements about himself as the defendant, Mackel clarified. This is not provided for in the investigation proceedings.
The violent crime also heated up the debate on immigration. North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Armin Laschet (CDU) and other politicians had previously warned against making political capital out of the crime. At the same time, Laschet recently called for "better success in deporting intensive care patients who are not German citizens, wherever possible."
The press release from the Public Prosecutor's Office in Bad Oeynhausen mentions the possibility of an indictment for grievous bodily harm, aside from the manslaughter charge.
The motivations behind the 18-year-old's alleged attack in North Rhine-Westphalia remain unclear, as investigators continue to gather witness accounts.
Despite the suspect's previous run-ins with the law in Germany, it is uncertain if these incidents will play a role in the indictment process, given that he has not been convicted yet.
