On the way to school, a ten-year-old girl is kidnapped and abused by a man who has been convicted of sexual offenses several times. The case caused a national stir.
Landau - The Landau regional court sentenced the defendant to twelve years in prison for the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a ten-year-old in Edenkoben (Palatinate). The judges found the man guilty of, among other things, serious sexual abuse of children and rape, abduction of minors and bodily harm. The court also ordered preventive detention.
The defendant, who has also been convicted of sexual offenses several times, is said to have dragged the girl into his car on the way to school on September 11, 2023 and abused her in an empty building. After a wild chase, the man was arrested and the child was rescued. The 62-year-old admitted the crime at the start of the trial. The case also caused a national stir.
The judge spoke of a “high but appropriate” sentence. “One cannot imagine a more intensive intervention than the sexual abuse of a child.” A report showed the man’s culpability. After his most recent prison sentence, the defendant acted with a “rapid rate of relapse” and was dangerous to the general public. Addressing the victim's father, the judge said: "I have great respect for the way you took part here."
No visible emotion at the guilty verdict
The defendant from Neustadt/Weinstrasse acknowledged the guilty verdict without any visible emotion. The stocky man with a bald head and a thin mustache was led into meeting room 309 in handcuffs. Wrapped in a dark jacket, he covered his face from photographers with a paper folder.
According to the prosecution, he rammed another vehicle with his getaway car, in which the child was also sitting, and raced towards a patrol car, sometimes traveling at speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour. In the trial he described a life marked by prison sentences. He grew up as one of 13 children and “at some point became a criminal”. In a statement made by his defense attorney, he emphasized that he regretted the crime.
In its non-public plea, the public prosecutor's office said it had demanded a total prison sentence of twelve years and that the defendant be placed in preventive detention. The defense did not want to share the content of its closed closing speech before the verdict was announced. When the charges were read out at the beginning of March, the audience and press had to temporarily leave the hall. It was about “interests worthy of protection,” it was said.
Discussion about electronic ankle bracelets
The crime also sparked a discussion about the forced application of an electronic ankle bracelet. The man was released from custody in mid-July 2023 and was closely monitored by the police. Among other things, he was banned from contacting children and young people and from being near playgrounds, schools, swimming pools and kindergartens. Furthermore, he was not allowed to have an internet-enabled cell phone or a laptop in order not to take any photos or videos.
According to investigators, the man violated this instruction. He also did not accept therapy offers. According to the information, the accused had previously also refused to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. The authorities pointed out at the time that an ankle bracelet could not be put on under duress.
A few days before the crime, the public prosecutor's office applied for an arrest warrant because the man had violated these conditions. Rhineland-Palatinate Justice Minister Herbert Mertin (FDP) said the files with the arrest warrant only arrived at the district court after the crime because an employee was ill.
After the case, State Interior Minister Michael Ebling announced that Rhineland-Palatinate wanted to tighten the legal framework for wearing an electronic ankle bracelet in the amendment to the Police and Public Order Act - including for sexual offenders. The SPD politician expects that the amendment can be passed in 2024. dpa