Torgelow: Leonie killed - mother sentenced to imprisonment

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Leonie's mother in court: Two years imprisonment

Photo: Bernd Wüstneck / dpa

The mother of the killed Leonie from Torgelow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was sentenced to two years imprisonment at the district court of Neubrandenburg.

"You are guilty of negligent manslaughter by omission," said judge Tanja Krüske in the grounds for the verdict.

The 27-year-old would have had the opportunity to get help for the child in time, but did not do so.

In this case, suspension on probation is no longer possible.

"Here a child died from sheer inactivity," said the judge, who almost lost her voice.

With the punishment, the district court went beyond the demands of the public prosecutor.

The verdict is not yet legally binding.

Stepfather already convicted

Leonie was found dead on January 12, 2019 in the apartment of the family of five in Torgelow.

The stepfather had mistreated the girl and then prevented the emergency services from being called in time.

He has already been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.

In court he had claimed that Leonie had sustained the injuries when falling down stairs.

The defendant was shopping while the child was mistreated.

After her return, she recognized the six-year-old's injuries, but did not get help in time.

ptz / dpa / AFP