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The accused with their lawyers in the Essen district court
Photo: Roland Weihrauch / dpa
After a serious accident with one dead and many injured, the trial against an 83-year-old began in Essen.
On February 29, 2020, the accused drove her car into a group of passengers at a tram stop in Essen who were about to get on.
Before the Essen district court, the pensioner was silent on the allegations.
According to the indictment, the 83-year-old overtook a car in front of her on the right and drove over the sidewalk with two tires and at least 50 km/h, possibly even up to 65 km/h.
Several people were thrown through the air as a result of the impact.
A 66-year-old succumbed to his injuries around three weeks after the accident.
According to the indictment, he was thrown up over the hood.
According to the indictment, two 13 and 14-year-olds suffered skull fractures and cerebral hemorrhage and had to be operated on in the hospital.
Other victims suffered broken bones, sprains and states of shock.
An eyewitness said in court: "I saw how the people flew through the air." A boy then crashed in front of her own vehicle, the witness said.
The son of the deceased 66-year-old stated that his mother was mentally ill after the death of his father.
He had to extend his studies to take care of her.
"She couldn't stand life in Essen any longer and moved to live with me in Mainz."
According to the indictment, an expert ruled out a technical defect in the elderly woman's car.
It is unclear why the accident happened.
The accused is charged with negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm in ten cases and endangering road traffic.
A verdict is expected in early May.
fek/dpa/AFP