“There is nothing I can use to justify what I did”: The accused admits his involvement in the act in Neu-Ulm, but accuses two previously unknown accomplices.
At the beginning of the trial for a brutal attack on a sleeping 81-year-old in Neu-Ulm, the accused admitted to having been involved in the act. “I regret that very much,” said the 37-year-old on Monday before the Memmingen district court. “There’s nothing I can do to justify what I’ve done.” According to the court, the accused had not previously commented on the allegations.
In court, however, he held two previously unknown accomplices responsible for the torment of the victim in July 2020 in his house. He asked her not to torment the homeowner. He was also promised in advance that no one would be in the house during the burglary, the accused said. He was only supposed to open the door and safe. He was able to identify the two men who had overpowered the sleeping senior from photos.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the physically disabled 81-year-old was tied up in his bed, choked and beaten during the attack. In addition, the perpetrators showered him with whiskey and threatened to set him on fire if he did not reveal where the safe key was hidden. The perpetrators are said to have stabbed the man several times with a nail file. Since the 81-year-old did not tell them where he was hiding, the perpetrators initially tried unsuccessfully with an angle grinder. The power went out several times, the accused said in court. The smoke alarm was also triggered.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the perpetrators only left the house after a good two hours. They took money and jewelry worth around 5500 euros with them. The victim was later able to call a neighbor for help. As a result of the robbery, the man suffered, among other things, a broken rib and a mental stress disorder.
So far, six further hearing dates are planned for the process. A verdict could therefore fall in mid-September. According to the court, the 37-year-old faces at least five years in prison if he is convicted of particularly serious robbery.