Long prison sentences in appeal trial over man abused and killed in forest
The court therefore considered it proven that both had abused and killed a 46-year-old man in a forest in the Rhein-Sieg district in 2020. They then cremated his body. The three knew each other from the drug and homeless milieu. An argument ensued, during which the now 33-year-old hit the victim on the head with a heavy branch.
The 23-year-old smashed the man's face with several blows with a shovel. He then strangled him with a belt and injured him with a broken beer bottle and a piece of wood. The two then buried the body in a dried-up stream and set it on fire. The remains were found in the forest in Eitorf in the Rhein-Sieg district at the beginning of August 2020.
In March 2021, the Bonn district court sentenced the 23-year-old to six years for manslaughter. The 33-year-old was acquitted at the time due to a lack of evidence. The convicted man's defense and the public prosecutor's office each appealed.
The Federal Supreme Court overturned the verdict, which is why the trial had to be reopened. It was criticized that the assessment of evidence had been insufficient and incomplete. If the evidence had been assessed correctly, the 33-year-old could have been convicted.
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- The court spokeswoman confirmed that the 33-year-old, who was previously acquitted, is now facing charges due to the revision process in the regional court in Bonn.
- The two men, who were involved in the incident in the Rhine-Sieg-district, had a history of drug abuse and homelessness.
- The public prosecutor's office is seeking imprisonment for both men in the ongoing trial for the long-term abused and killed 46-year-old.
- The 23-year-old, who was initially sentenced to six years for manslaughter, is now facing more severe charges due to the evidence found during the revision process.
- According to the court documents, the victim sustained bodily injury due to several brutal attacks with a shovel, a broken beer bottle, and a piece of wood.
- The regional court in Bonn will decide on the prison sentences for both men, taking into account their roles in the abusive and fatal incident in the forest.
- The MAN company, located in the Rhine-Sieg-district, has expressed its concern over the increased criminal activities in the area and called for stricter measures to ensure public safety.
- The case has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing drug-related crimes and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
Source: www.stern.de
