Demand for lightning procedure
Berlin’s Senator for Justice slows down CDU General Secretary Linnemann
Carsten Linnemann, CDU General Secretary
© Michael Kappeler / DPA
The new CDU General Linnemann has made headlines with his call for fast-track procedures for outdoor pool offenders. That was obviously the goal – because the demand is not realistic. At least that’s how you see it in Berlin.
What happened? After repeated violence in Berlin’s outdoor pools, the new man at Merzen’s side had called for the consistent punishment of violent offenders on the day of the crime. He expects “quite simply” the “enforcement of our laws,” said Linnemann in response to a question from “Bild am Sonntag”.
“Fast trials are needed against violent criminals, and the judicial system must be organized accordingly.” Anyone who attacks people in the outdoor pool at noon must sit in front of the judge in the evening and be sentenced. “Even on weekends.” The Code of Criminal Procedure provides that. The penalty must also be fully exhausted, up to and including imprisonment.
At the request of star Berlin’s Senator for Justice expresses little conviction about the demands of the new CDU general secretary. “Accelerated proceedings under the Code of Criminal Procedure can in principle be a suitable means of convicting perpetrators more quickly,” said Badenberg. “In the end, however, the courts alone decide whether to carry out accelerated proceedings.” And not the CDU general secretary, that is to say.
Berlin’s Senator for Justice: “Such procedures cannot be used with young people”
In general: The Code of Criminal Procedure enables the public prosecutor’s office to apply for a decision in accelerated proceedings if the matter is suitable for immediate hearing due to the simple facts or the clear evidence. In the case of crimes committed over a weekend, however, a judge is not always available in some places. The summary court may sentence the accused to a maximum of one year imprisonment.
Justice Senator Badenberg also points out that accelerated procedures would only be considered for simple facts with clear evidence. “Such procedures cannot be used with young people,” said Badenberg star. The public prosecutor’s office would check in each individual case whether the prerequisites for this were met.
There had been riots, riots and fights among young people in several Berlin outdoor pools. For example, after an argument with young people, the Columbiabad in Berlin-Neukölln will remain closed for the time being.
Linnemann’s pithy statements promptly met with criticism. The judges’ association objected that this could not be done without additional staff, and Linnemann was accused of populism from the traffic light parties.
Green leader Omid Nouripour, for example, pointed out in the ZDF “summer interview” that the CDU now bears responsibility in Berlin state politics. He therefore hopes that Linnemann will not only make such suggestions in interviews, but will also talk to Senator for Justice Felor Badenberg (independent) “so that judges can be hired as quickly as possible” in order to enable quick procedures.
The leader of the Left Party, Janine Wissler, also voiced criticism of Linnemann’s demands. “I mean, the problem that most people have is that there is no longer a swimming pool within reach, that many children can no longer swim,” she said in the ARD “summer interview”. “That’s a much bigger problem than the occasional brawl in outdoor pools.”