- The legal proceedings commence following a deadly pursuit in Gaggenau
Without a valid driving permit and under the influence of marijuana, a 20-year-old reportedly caused a fatal accident while driving his father's car during a police chase. The accused, now 21, faces charges of recklessly endangering others and will go on trial at the juvenile division of the Baden-Baden Regional Court, starting Wednesday (9:30 AM).
The authorities assert that this incident happened in January at Gaggenau (Rastatt district). The defendant, who is said to have dual German and Turkish citizenship, is alleged to have avoided a police roadblock that afternoon. The officers had utilized flashing lights, a siren, and the signal "Polizei halt" to warn the defendant. The defendant allegedly sped away at over 100 km/h, lost control of the vehicle while turning at an intersection, and veered onto a sidewalk, colliding with a pedestrian. The woman succumbed to her injuries in the hospital around a month later. The car then flipped, damaging a bus stop and a fence.
The defendant has been in custody since then and has yet to respond to the accusations. The court has arranged five further hearings. A verdict might be announced by mid-October, with the possibility of secluded sessions during parts of the trial, as suggested by a court representative.
The police used the warning "Police halt" during the chase, attempting to stop the defendant's speeding vehicle. Due to the defendant's reckless actions, a police officer had to file a report with the local precinct after the accident.
