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"Open Beatz Festival" in Herzogenarauch (archive): fall 25 meters deep
Photo: Daniel Jüptner / 7aktuell / IMAGO
The fatal accident in a Central Franconian Ferris wheel has serious consequences for the operator.
The Erlangen district court sentenced the showman to 14 months in prison without parole for negligent homicide, a spokeswoman said.
A 31-year-old fell out of a gondola on the Ferris wheel on the evening of July 20, 2019 at the "Open Beatz" music festival in Herzogenaurach, near Nuremberg.
According to the court spokeswoman, the man was drunk, kept getting up in the gondola and dancing.
In doing so, he came across the door, which opened with “a slight counter-pressure”.
The man fell 25 meters.
He died later in hospital.
Doors didn't close properly
The spokeswoman said the gondola was not properly closed.
According to Bayerischer Rundfunk, investigations have shown that the locking pin was installed improperly.
The doors in other gondolas did not close properly either.
The court went beyond the prosecutor's request with its verdict.
The prosecution had pleaded for 15 months imprisonment on probation, the defense had demanded acquittal.
The 63-year-old showman has appealed the verdict.
He had remained silent in the process.
TÜV employee convicted
In November, a TÜV employee was also sentenced to one year's imprisonment on probation for negligent homicide.
This judgment is final.
The TÜV Rheinland employee was commissioned to inspect the Ferris wheel.
He had issued a certificate without having seen the ride - and before it was fully assembled, as the court spokeswoman explained.
jpz/dpa