Process against brothers - Shots at two men: Defendants plead self-defense
A 21-year-old man is standing trial at the Berlin Regional Court due to shooting at two Men, allegedly injuring one of them. His 25-year-old brother is also charged. The indictment includes attempted murder and violation of the Weapons Act.
During an altercation in the Kreuzberg district, the 21-year-old is said to have fired three shots. A 42-year-old man was reportedly hit in the foot. The 25-year-old was present at the scene. At the start of the trial, the brothers invoked self-defense. "I only used the weapon to defend myself," the 21-year-old stated.
First warning shot, then shot in the foot
An incident involving drug deals is said to have occurred near Mehringplatz, close to the U-Bahn station Hallesches Tor, on December 17, 2023. Around 5:30 pm, the 21-year-old is alleged to have drawn a semi-automatic firearm. He is said to have fired the first shot into the ground, the second into the foot of an opponent.
The final shot was fired from a distance of approximately two meters towards a 40-year-old man, but he was not hit. The 25-year-old then reportedly urged his brother to fire another shot. However, the 21-year-old was unable to reload the weapon again, according to the indictment.
The younger defendant stated that a dispute had occurred at a kiosk earlier with a family member of the later injured man. He eventually used pepper spray because the other man would not stop. Some time later, they were allegedly attacked by a "larger group" near their home.
The men were reportedly armed with baseball bats, machetes, and pepper spray, according to the 21-year-old. When they approached his brother, he shot to stop them. First, he fired a warning shot, then in the foot. With the third shot, he "deliberately missed."
The brothers have been in pretrial detention for approximately seven months. The trial continues on July 23.
The defense argument in the trial at the Berlin Regional Court hinges on self-defense, with the 21-year-old brother claiming he used the weapon to protect himself. The indictment in this Criminality case includes charges of attempted murder and violations of the Weapons Act, stemming from an incident in Berlin's Kreuzberg district. The alleged shooting victim, a 42-year-old man, was reportedly hit in the foot during the incident. Justice will be served in this process, with the trial set to continue on July 23.
