Judgment - Penalty trial for bodily harm resulting in death
A 57-year-old man, who is alleged to have been hit in the head with a fist, which likely led to his death, has been sentenced to a total of four years and eight months in prison by the Frankenthal District Court. The man was convicted of bodily harm resulting in death in conjunction with theft, damage to property, defamation, and resistance against enforcement officers, according to a justice spokesperson. The judgment is not yet legally binding.
The 30-year-old defendant is accused of attacking the victim in Neustadt/Weinstraße in September 2023. The prosecution demanded a total sentence of six years. The defense argued for acquittal on the main charge. For the additional allegations, such as theft, damage to property, and defamation, the sentence should not exceed nine months.
The sentence for the 57-year-old's actions, including bodily harm leading to death and property damage, falls under the jurisdiction of the Rhineland-Palatinate's criminal justice system. The defense acknowledged the defendant's responsibility for the damage to property but argued against felony charges. The court, however, deemed the fine for property damage insufficient in light of the overall criminality involved, including the man's violent afterdeath consequences.
