In the trial surrounding a fatal arson attack on an asylum seekers’ home in Saarlouis in 1991, the defendant was sentenced to a youth sentence of six years and ten months.
The conviction was based on juvenile criminal law because the defendant was only 20 years old at the time of the crime. This meant that the maximum sentence in this trial was ten years. The now 52-year-old was convicted of, among other things, murder, attempted murder in several cases and particularly serious arson.
At the end of September, the prosecution demanded nine years and six months in prison. The defense, however, had demanded that the man only be convicted of aiding and abetting murder. He testified in the trial that he was present at the fire, but that an acquaintance at the time started the fire.
Investigations originally closed
The Saarland police initially stopped the original investigation around 30 years ago – and later apologized for deficiencies in their work. Years later the case got rolling again. In 2007, the now 52-year-old German is said to have said to a witness at a barbecue: “That was me and they never caught me.” The witness only filed a report much later when she said she read that someone had died in the fire.
Samuel Yeboah died of burns and a Smoke poisoning
The then 20-year-old is said to have spilled gasoline in the stairwell and set it on fire. The fire caught the 27-year-old in the attic hallway Samuel Yeboah. He died of burns and smoke inhalation. Two other residents were only able to save themselves by jumping out of the window, breaking bones in the process. The remaining 18 residents were able to escape to safety uninjured.
Apartment search 2021 because of the arson attack in Saarlouis in 1991
After the attack, the investigation was initially unsuccessful and was discontinued. The case was considered Germany’s best-known unsolved extremist murder case. It was only around three years ago that the investigation was reopened due to new findings and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office took over the case. In January 2021, S.’s apartment and workplace were searched. The arrest followed at the beginning of April 2022. He has been in court since November.
38 Negotiation days before the Higher Regional Court Koblenz
The process has taken several turns since then. In March, the court offered S. a deal. An understanding discussion took place between those involved in the process. It was about an agreement on a punishment range for a “qualified” confession. The deal fell through a few weeks later.
The process could have been shortened through an agreement between those involved. S. later confessed to having been at the crime scene at the time of the crime. However, he accused a third party of starting the fire. He got the accelerant and poured it into the stairwell. After a short break, both returned to the crime scene. S.’s former comrade ignited the gasoline. Both then ran away in different directions.
Further investigation into the arson attack Asylum seekers’ hostel
A surprising turn of events came in June when another Suspect arrested in the case became. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office accuses Peter St. of aiding and abetting murder and aiding and abetting attempted murder in 20 cases. He is not the former comrade that S. accused in his confession. St. is said to have influenced and encouraged the main perpetrator S. in his plan.
St. is said to have played a prominent role in the regional skinhead scene at the time. He made it clear in a conversation that he approved of an attack on a refugee home like in East Germany also being carried out in Saarlouis. S. is said to have been encouraged by this.