Public prosecutor: Criminal proceedings have strict rules
Following the fatal attack on a schoolboy in Offenburg, the 15-year-old suspected attacker is being investigated under juvenile criminal law. This is subject to strict rules, said the head of the Offenburg public prosecutor's office, Iris Janke, on Tuesday in Offenburg. For example, there are strict guidelines for the information policy of the investigators. In addition, a 15-year-old must also be examined to see whether he had sufficient maturity to be able to understand his alleged crime. This is especially true for such a serious accusation, said Janke. According to the public prosecutor's office, an expert is now to clarify this. This expert is also to investigate whether the suspect was in a "psychopathological state" when the crime was committed. In Germany, young people aged 14 and over are criminally liable.
If the suspicion against the alleged attacker is confirmed, he could face a maximum prison sentence of ten years under juvenile criminal law, said Jahnke.
The German is in custody on suspicion of manslaughter. The teenager is said to have entered his classroom last Thursday and suddenly shot his classmate in the head with a handgun. The 15-year-old victim was hit by two shots, the investigators had already announced.
The strict information policy in place during the investigation of the schoolboy's attacker is aimed at ensuring fairness and avoidance of influencing potential witnesses. Despite being a minor, the suspect's maturity and mental state at the time of the crime are also considered crucial under juvenile criminal law.
Source: www.dpa.com
