Hanover
Case against Goecke dropped after dog feces attack
Ballet director Goecke smeared dog feces on a journalist. An emotional act, as he said afterwards. (archive image) photo
© Christophe Gateau/dpa
Because he didn’t like her reviews, a ballet director smeared his dachshund’s feces on a journalist. The disgusting attack made headlines, but has no repercussions in court.
The proceedings against the former ballet director of the Hanover State Opera, Marco Goecke, because of a dog feces attack, has been hired against a fine.
Smearing a journalist with dog feces was seen as a physical insult, said a spokeswoman for the Hanover public prosecutor’s office. Goecke had to pay a mid-four-figure amount to a non-profit organization that deals with conflict resolution. The “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” (HAZ) initially reported on the discontinuation of the proceedings.
Contract as ballet director terminated
On February 11, 2023, Goecke smeared dog feces on an author from the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (“FAZ”) in the foyer of the opera in the Lower Saxony state capital. He had previously accused her of always writing “bad, personal” reviews. The Hanover State Theater separated from the choreographer in the week after the attack. According to the artistic director, his contract as ballet director was terminated by mutual agreement with immediate effect. International media such as the New York Times reported on the attack.
After the crime, both the affected ballet critic Wiebke Hüster and the “FAZ” filed a complaint against Goecke. The dance critic was satisfied with the outcome of the proceedings. “For me everything is fine as it is,” Hüster told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ). She is not seeking civil proceedings. “I don’t want any money from Marco Goecke,” she said. “Whatever he would have had to pay me, I would have donated anyway. I deliberately didn’t do it. Donating money is nice – but do I want to go through this procedure? Then I would have had to meet Marco Goecke again. And I don’t want that .”
The act was not considered bodily harm
After the dog feces attack, Goecke was investigated for simple assault and insult. The victim experienced the act as severe humiliation, but suffered no physical impairment or damage to her health, said the authority spokeswoman. Therefore, the act was not classified as bodily harm. In addition, Goecke did not have a criminal record, showed recognition of injustice and had to accept negative professional consequences. The proceedings were discontinued in coordination with the Hanover District Court.
In an interview in September, Goecke himself cited burnout as the reason for the attack with dachshund poop. “It is tragic what happened and should be regretted,” said the 51-year-old to the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”. At the same time, the choreographer reported on new plans, including with the State Opera in Prague. But the most important thing for him is to look after his dachshund, Gustav, who is now 15 years old. According to Goecke, it was an emotional act. He actually wanted to dispose of Gustav’s pile in a plastic bag.