Munich
Fatal speeding accident: Defendant confesses
The 22-year-old sits with his lawyer in the dock of the Munich district court. photo
© Elke Richter/dpa
He didn’t want to be caught without a driver’s license, so he stepped on the gas during a check: A 22-year-old admitted to killing an 18-year-old. However, his apology was not heard.
After the friend of the man killed, who was also seriously injured in the July incident, testified as a witness, the defendant asked to speak. “I would give my life to reverse this. I’m so sorry for what happened,” he said through tears and wished the man, who was still suffering mentally and physically from the consequences, a speedy recovery.
“I’ll never forgive you”
The 18-year-old witness then answered him in a clear voice and clear words: “I will never forgive you for what you have done. None of us will ever forgive you for what you have done.”
The man killed was one of his best friends; they were on their way back from a festival that evening. “I hope you feel bad for the rest of your life,” he continued. Amid audible sobs from the audience, the young man continued, “We both know that it is entirely your fault that it happened, that you could have prevented it. We both know that you are a coward.”
“I know that it was very cowardly and I know that I most deserved to die that day,” replied the defendant, who comes from Sinsheim in Baden-Württemberg. He was afraid of the police check because his driver’s license had already been revoked.
Police officer cries during testimony
The 22-year-old also apologized to the police officer who had chased him with a colleague at the time and who, despite many years on the job, repeatedly broke her voice when describing the events. “I alone am to blame for what happened. (…) You did a good job.”
The policewoman’s colleague also repeatedly cried during his statement. “I thought to myself, shit, this isn’t going to end well,” said the experienced officer, recounting the seconds before the man being pursued raced his car into an intersection at a red light, collided with a crossing car, rolled over and hurled himself into passers-by.
The officers were the first to arrive at the rubble: “You just have the feeling that you don’t have enough arms to help everyone.” When he saw the killed 18-year-old, he knew that any help would come too late.
Through Munich city center at 144 km/h
The trial began very late – due to the large number of visitors, the hearing was spontaneously moved to a larger hall. Around a hundred people, including many young people, watched the reading of the charges.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses the defendant of, among other things, negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm as well as a prohibited motor vehicle race – he raced through the city center with up to 144 vehicles. A total of five people were injured in the accident at Munich’s Leonrodplatz. The verdict is expected next Thursday.