Rathausplatz in Kiel (archive image)
Photo:
Guenter Nowack/ penofoto/ imago images
The district court in Kiel has pronounced its verdict in the trial surrounding the tragic death of a 23-year-old trainee who was fatally hit by a flagpole that had been knocked over on the town hall square.
The truck driver, who had caused the flagpole to fall with his vehicle, was sentenced to a fine of 90 daily rates of 60 euros each - a total of 5400 euros - for negligent manslaughter.
The court thus followed the request of the public prosecutor on Wednesday.
This was preceded by an agreement on a range of penalties and a confession by the 62-year-old from near Bamberg in Franconia.
The proceedings against the 75-year-old passenger were temporarily suspended for a payment of 1,200 euros, "because his realized guilt is not that great," as judge Sebastian Schwarz said.
Although negligence can be seen in his behavior during the briefing, this is to be assessed as minor.
According to the wishes of the mother of the 23-year-old trainee, the money should go to a hospice in Kiel.
Both men had confessed.
Truck driver apologizes to mother of dead man
In his confession, the truck driver described how he reversed his vehicle into the flagpole.
In between, the man's voice failed and he cried.
He also apologized to the mother of the dead.
He wanted to reconnect a trailer that he had previously parked there.
According to his description, he had been working at the construction site for several years and was always supposed to unload building materials on the site.
He had assumed that he had permission to drive onto the square.
He didn't see the mast.
"I've never noticed him." His colleague instructed him and paid attention to cars and pedestrians, for example.
In August 2020, the driver had reversed the truck the last bit on Kiel’s Rathausplatz without instructing the passenger and hit the mast in the process.
As a result, the 14 meter high flagpole broke and killed the trainee.
She had gathered with other new trainees from the city of Kiel for a photo together on the town hall square.
ktz/dpa
