Memmingen district court: trial of the violent death of a 16-year-old behind closed doors

Created: 09/15/2022, 16:31

By: Klaus D. Treude

The two defendants will no longer need the folders in front of their faces in the further course of the trial, since the hearing will not be held in public in the future.

© Klaus D. Treude

Memmingen – The second day of the trial in the trial against 16-year-old Angelina A. and 26-year-old Denis G. for the joint murder of 16-year-old Hannah W. on November 14 last year south of Memmingen Airport was for the spectators present and media representatives unexpectedly quickly.

The 5th Criminal Chamber of the Memmingen Regional Court as a youth chamber, chaired by the presiding judge Thomas Hörmann, followed the request of a defense lawyer for the accused, who had demanded the exclusion of the public, including media representatives, from all days of the hearing to protect his client.

The pronouncement of judgment scheduled for December 8, 2022 should also not take place in public.

The court did not consider a phased exclusion to be sensible.

The prosecution, the private prosecutor and the defense of the second accused did not reject the request.

Caused a stir throughout Germany: great public interest in the murder trial

Public interest in the trial, which caused a stir across Germany, was extremely high on the second day of the trial last Thursday, as it was on the first day of the trial two and a half weeks ago.

There were only a few seats left in the audience and press room.

The first interrogations and hearings were expected that day.

The trial began half an hour late because the vehicle carrying the accused, who had meanwhile been transferred to another prison with a psychiatric ward, got stuck in the morning traffic.

Both defendants took their places in the courtroom in front of their defense attorneys, shielding their faces with open file folders while the judge permitted photography and filming.

While the defendant seemed to stare straight into the courtroom with an impassive face, the defendant usually sat in her seat with her head bowed.

From time to time, however, she lifted her head and looked sadly at the people in the hall.

At least in this first, still public, phase of the trial, the defendants did not seek contact with one another, neither by looks nor by words.

To protect the underage accused

The reason for the exclusion of the public and the media was the protection of the underage accused, which the court believes outweighs the public interest and freedom of the press - even if the seriousness of the crime is considerable.

The accused is increasingly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders while in custody, as several reports show.

The child and adolescent psychiatrist present at the hearing as an expert also confirmed this assessment.

She blames herself for the crime she has committed and tends to self-harm, which is why she is placed in a monitor cell with constant observation.

It is important to give the young woman a "safe space" to prevent further destabilization and damage to her health and to give her the opportunity for education and further personal development.

A public trial with associated extensive media coverage could lead to stigmatization of the accused.

Their later identifiability is favored.

In addition, a publicly conducted procedure could hinder the establishment of the truth, since communication behavior could be inhibited, it was said to justify the exclusion of the public that has now taken place.

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