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Markings on the street in Kusel
Photo: Harald Tittel / dpa
In the case of the police officers who were shot dead near Kusel in the Palatinate, one of the two suspects is no longer suspected of murder.
This is announced by the public prosecutor's office in Kaiserslautern.
Accordingly, the investigators are now assuming that the 38-year-old suspect Andreas S. alone fired five shots at the two police officers.
The suspicion of commercial poaching at night still exists against both suspects - the 38-year-old S. and the 32-year-old Florian V. This is now also accused of evading criminal prosecution.
The arrest warrants against the two men have been changed accordingly, and both remain in custody.
A 29-year-old police commissioner and a 24-year-old police candidate were shot dead near Kusel on January 31 when they wanted to check a vehicle.
On the same day, the police in Saarland arrested the two suspects, who were then held in custody on suspicion of joint murder.
Investigators had previously assumed that both men committed the crime and both shot to cover up previous poaching.
Numerous dead wild animals were discovered in the car, with which the two men had probably been traveling.
No DNA traces from V. on the weapons
Forensic investigations and interrogations had led to the suspicion changing.
V. was questioned at the crime scene and described what happened from his point of view, it is now said.
V. admit to having poached with S. on the night of the crime.
However, he denies having fired the fatal shots.
He was just about to drag a piece of game into the car when S. started shooting at the police officers.
V. said he then looked for cover in the ditch.
According to the public prosecutor's office, S. is still silent on the allegations.
It is said that finger and DNA traces from S. were found on the two murder weapons during the investigation.
Traces of V. were not found.
The investigations for traces of smoke are technically lengthy and have not yet been completed.
In addition, S. was an experienced shooter, and V. had "no indications of shooting practice" found.
Murder weapons were registered to a third, authorized person
According to the public prosecutor's office, there are also new findings on the murder weapons: the shotgun and hunting rifle that were secured from the two suspects when they were arrested are the murder weapons.
The two weapons were entered on the weapon ownership card of another, authorized person.
The investigators are now examining any criminal behavior of this person.
Neither Andreas S. nor Florian V. were permitted to own weapons at the time of the crime.
Editor's note: In an earlier version, a subheading incorrectly stated that there were no traces of S.'s DNA on the weapons. It is correct that no DNA traces from V. were found on the weapons. We corrected the mistake.
ptz/dpa