As of: February 5, 2024, 12:43 p.m
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Police forensics employees work in front of a jeweler.
© Moritz Frankenberg/dpa
It came out of nowhere: shots fired during a robbery at a jewelry store in Hanover, one person was critically injured.
Now a 19-year-old is on trial - and makes one thing very clear.
Hanover - In broad daylight, shots rang out through downtown Hanover, then amid horrified people, two masked people fled on women's bicycles: In just a few minutes last summer, two 19-year-olds robbed a jewelry store in the pedestrian zone, smashing display cases with a sledgehammer.
One of the two shot and critically injured a 39-year-old employee.
The trial against one of the alleged perpetrators began on Monday at the Hanover regional court - he confessed to destroying the display cases.
He didn't shoot.
The young man had his defense attorney Matthias Volkmar Steppuhn say in a statement at the start of the trial: “I would like to sincerely apologize to all the people to whom I have caused harm and suffering.” He will try to make everything right.
He also takes responsibility for breaking display cases and stealing jewelry: “I shouldn’t have done this.”
He also spoke of the pressure he was under to take part in the attack.
However, he did not know that his accomplice, who was the same age, had a sharp weapon with him.
When the plan became a “disaster,” it was too late.
The public prosecutor's office accuses the 19-year-old of attempted murder, aggravated robbery and grievous bodily harm.
The two young men are said to have tried to get their prey out of greed and treachery.
The Iraqi's alleged accomplice is said to have fled abroad - according to the prosecution, it was this accomplice who shot the 39-year-old several times during the attack on July 11, 2023, initially missing him and ultimately critically injuring him.
Several continuation dates are planned for the process.
Several customers were in the store when the two hooded men entered the store.
Video camera footage showed the display cases being smashed and one of the perpetrators firing.
The floor was covered in broken glass.
The later victim grabbed a trash can and threw it at one of the perpetrators, then another shot was fired, hitting the 39-year-old.
Finally, the masked men fled with their loot, including mainly gold chains.
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The 19-year-old did not initially answer questions, but according to his lawyer, he wants to provide information at a later date.
In the statement, the young man said he was very afraid that “something would be done” to his family if he said more.
He informed his alleged accomplice through his lawyer.
But there was no response, said Steppuhn.
His client received nothing from the loot.
The 39-year-old victim said there wasn't much going on at the store on the day of the robbery.
He finally heard voices shouting “hands up”.
He saw one man with a gun in his hand, the other had a hammer.
He pressed the alarm button and threw the trash can at the attackers because he wanted to save his boss's daughter.
Then the shot hit him and he screamed.
He had to stay in hospital for three weeks and underwent surgery.
The projectile injured several blood vessels, the intestines, a kidney and two vertebrae, and the victim lost a lot of blood.
Since the attack, he has hardly ventured out among people and is also unsure whether he will be able to return to his job.
It was difficult for him to talk about the incident, the father of the family said through tears.
“I have the feeling that I'm reliving everything again.” He rejected the 19-year-old's personal words addressed to him: “I don't accept that.” dpa