Trial in Bochum
19-year-old strangled: teenager in court for murder
Elementary school students from Recklinghausen discovered the victim’s body in their schoolyard. Now the alleged perpetrator is on trial. photo
© Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Because he didn’t want to pay off a debt of 200 euros, a 17-year-old is said to have strangled an acquaintance who was two years older than him. Now the trial began in Bochum.
A 17-year-old is on trial for allegedly strangling his 19-year-old friend Greed murder in court. According to the indictment, the trigger was a dispute over debts. The trial at the Bochum regional court is taking place behind closed doors. Elementary school students from Recklinghausen discovered the young woman’s body in their schoolyard. The Croatian defendant is said to have strangled his acquaintance on the night of May 22nd this year.
The 17-year-old was arrested the day after the crime after evaluating traces and with the help of data from cell phone cells. He has been in custody ever since. He is said to have not commented on the allegations before the trial began.
The investigators assume that the 17-year-old met the later victim in the schoolyard around half past twelve in the morning. He is said to have borrowed 200 euros from his acquaintance last fall. According to the prosecution, in order not to have to return the money, he decided to kill his acquaintance.
During the argument, he is said to have initially brought the 19-year-old to the ground. He then allegedly pressed a piece of clothing or a similar object against her neck – until the 19-year-old stopped breathing.
Elementary school children discovered the body before school started. However, an emergency doctor was only able to determine that the young woman was dead. There were no more classes that day. The children were looked after by pastors. If convicted of murder, the 17-year-old could face up to ten years in prison.