Court Proceeding in Berlin - Parent and offspring found guilty of drug distribution within their living space
A 58-year-old woman and her 31-year-old son have been convicted for drug-related crimes in their apartment in Berlin-Schöneberg. The Berlin Regional Court handed down a prison sentence of three years and three months to the son. His mother was given a suspended sentence of one year and six months. The court found that the son was involved in armed drug dealing, among other things. The mother was ruled to have aided and abetted his activities. Mother and son had confessed to their involvement. "I didn't want to betray or lose my son, but I stayed silent for too long," the woman explained.
The court's verdict stated that various sedatives were being sold from the mother's apartment. The drugs belonged to the son and he had her permission to store them in her rooms. She also assisted in sales when he was absent. The 58-year-old desired to "help her son, who was in trouble, but was going about it in the wrong way." The 31-year-old aimed to fund his personal drug use through drug sales. The defendants were also found guilty of drug possession and violating the Weapons Act.
The investigation began in April 2022 after reports of frequent drug use in a green space in Berlin-Schöneberg. Drugs were believed to be sourced from a nearby ground-floor apartment. During two raids, the police seized, among other things, six kilograms of cannabis, nearly 180 ecstasy tablets and cocaine. A switchblade concealed in the couch cushions was also discovered. The mother and son had intentionally hidden it there for self-defense, as the judges surmised.
Sedatives were discovered throughout the apartment - under the couch, on shelves, behind the TV stand, under a coffee table can, in the refrigerator, in a cigarette pack behind a pillow. A total of approximately 8,800 euros in cash was also confiscated.
The court generally upheld the prosecution's demands in its verdict. The defense had argued for suspended sentences. The verdict is not yet final.
The defendants' case was initially heard at the Berlin Court of First Instance due to the nature and severity of the charges. After considering the evidence and testimonies, the court decided to sentence the mother and son according to their roles in the drug-related crimes.
