Processes
Tree kills child: expert sees deficiencies in inspection
According to the prosecution, the tree inspector overlooked the fungal infection in a maple tree. photo
© Stefan Puchner/dpa
A 23-meter-tall maple tree falls in a playground, hitting a mother and toddler. The 20-month-old daughter dies. Now a court is clarifying the responsibility of the tree inspector.
After a fatal tree fall on an Augsburg man Playground, an expert in court accused the accused city tree inspector of inadequate inspection of the tree.
In July 2021, a 23-meter-high maple tree fell in the playground and hit a seesaw where a mother was playing with her 20-month-old daughter. Both were seriously injured, the girl later died in the Augsburg University Hospital.
The 58-year-old inspector has been standing before the Augsburg district court since Monday on charges of negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm. The public prosecutor’s office accuses the man of not having carried out any further investigations when he last checked the tree, which had clearly grown at an angle, 14 months before the accident – otherwise he would have been able to detect the fungal infection on the maple tree, which then led to the fall. The inspector’s defense attorney, however, explained that his client could not see the problem.
The court expert said that further technical measures should have been taken during the inspection, which then led to the conclusion that the tree was not safe. However, two other experts are expected to testify in the proceedings, some of whom assess the situation differently.