Death of a young refugee - Police shooting trial - defendant gives interview
A police officer, currently on trial at the Dortmund District Court for fatal shootings against a refugee, gave a detailed interview to "Spiegel" magazine. The 30-year-old, charged with manslaughter, said: "Shit, that it had come to this."
In a court statement at the end of May, the suspended officer expressed his remorse and sympathy to the victim's family. The 30-year-old is accused of shooting Mouhamed Dramé from a machine pistol in the courtyard of a youth welfare facility in 2022. Also indicted are the team leader, two policewomen, and another police officer.
"Life isn't a movie," says the defendant
In court, the 30-year-old testified that the shots were fired because the 16-year-old Senegalese, holding a knife in his hand, had rushed towards the police officers at high speed. There was no time for a warning shot. Before that, the refugee had threatened himself with a knife in the courtyard of a youth welfare facility. Two policemen had tried to disarm him with pepper spray. The Dortmund District Court must determine why the initially assumed suicide attempt escalated.
In the "Spiegel" interview, the 30-year-old stated that he had not initially considered the gunshot wounds to be life-threatening. Therefore, the 16-year-old was subsequently immobilized. "Even if it sounds harsh: Just because someone has been shot, it doesn't mean they're incapacitated," the police officer said. "Life isn't a movie where someone gets shot and then instantly lies motionless." He later learned that the 16-year-old had died in the hospital. "That was unreal, you just can't believe it." He is convinced that he could not have acted differently in the situation. "I can't imagine that a colleague would have been injured or killed, relying on me to protect him. I would never forgive myself."
"They said I was a murderer"
The day after the shootings, there was a demonstration in front of the police station. "They said I was a murderer and a racist. That hurt." He couldn't shake off whether he was being seen as an enemy or if it was the police institution itself. "My feelings were conflicting: It hurt me personally, but at the same time I was angry. Nothing was known - and it was already being politicized. Considering that a person had died, I found that very difficult."
- Despite the ongoing trial for the fatal shooting in Germany, the North Rhine-Westphalia police force is still facing processes related to the incident.
- The suspended police officer, accused of killing Mouhamed Drame in 2022, expressed regret during court proceedings in Dortmund, acknowledging that "life isn't a movie" where consequences are not instant.
- Following the lethal shooting, protests erupted in front of the local police station, with protesters labeling the officer a "murderer" and a "racist," which deeply affected him.
- The final sentence in the officer's "Spiegel" interview revealed the intense emotions he felt after the event, stating, "They said I was a murderer, and that hurt, but at the same time, I was angry - nothing was known, and it was already being politicized."
