- Student murdered ex-girlfriend - BGH must review verdict
The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) will have to deal with the murder of a student who killed his ex-girlfriend at their shared school in northern Baden-Württemberg. The 18-year-old's defense attorney has filed an appeal, as announced by a spokesperson for Heidelberg Regional Court. The SWR previously reported on this.
The court had sentenced the German to 11 years in prison for murder and bodily harm last week, as he had stabbed his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend to death at their shared school in St. Leon-Rot in January. The prosecution had demanded a juvenile sentence of 13 years for murder. The defense pleaded for 8 years for manslaughter. The trial took place behind closed doors. The 18-year-old admitted to the crime.
The BGH will review the verdict solely for legal errors. It will not hear witnesses or gather evidence. Germany's top criminal judges can affirm, modify, or overturn the verdict. In the latter case, disputed parts would have to be retried.
The defense attorney's appeal about the 18-year-old's conviction raises questions about the legality of the initial judgments made in the case. The Federal Court of Justice's role in reviewing the case is to identify and correct any potential legal errors in the verdict.
