The former national player Christoph Metzelder has to go to the dock in Düsseldorf.
On the first day of the trial, he made a partial confession.
Update from April 29, 1:13 p.m.:
Christoph Metzelder made a partial confession in front of the Düsseldorf District Court.
The 40-year-old admitted the forwarding of 18 child and youth pornographic files on Thursday.
He did not admit to owning nearly 300 files as charged.
“I accept the punishment and ask forgiveness from victims of sexual violence.
I will have to live with this guilt as part of society for the rest of my life, ”said Metzelder.
The district court had promised a prison sentence of between ten and twelve months on probation in the event of a confession.
It had emphasized that the former national soccer player was considered innocent until the proceedings were finally concluded.
Christoph Metzelder: The process has begun - the ex-national player breaks his silence
Update from April 29, 11.41 a.m.:
The trial against Christoph Metzelder has begun. The former Bundesliga star entered the hall at the Düsseldorf District Court in a gray jacket and a black FFP2 mask. According to
AFP
information,
he commented
on his résumé, his sporting career and his social commitment, of which he was "very proud". However, he was silent about the allegations. "September 3, 2019 was a turning point, professionally, socially, privately," said the 40-year-old.
He has lived "since then, withdrawn, all professional and social commitments are suspended or have already ended".
He wanted to return the Federal Cross of Merit and the North Rhine-Westphalian Order of Merit “out of respect for current and future award winners”.
Metzelder's lawyer Ulrich Sommer criticized in his statement that it came to the public main hearing.
Christoph Metzelder in court: Serious allegations against ex-national players
First report from April 29th, 9:03 am:
Düsseldorf - Soccer vice world champion Christoph Metzelder (40) has to answer to court this Thursday in Düsseldorf.
He is charged with possessing child and youth pornography and forwarding a total of 29 files to three women.
The district court has emphasized that the 40-year-old is considered innocent until the legal conclusion of the proceedings.
He has not yet commented publicly on the allegations.
The allegations against Metzelder became known in September 2019.
A few days ago, his defense attorney Ulrich Sommer made a public statement: “He knows what he's done.
He also knows that you can call that a mistake, ”said Sommer in a TV interview.
Christoph Metzelder: Former soccer star in the dock
"At some point there is this kick even with things that you shouldn't have touched at all costs," said Sommer, who also confirmed that Metzelder was now in therapy. It is "about sexuality and dealing with women". The public prosecutor's office will probably have to do without the main witness in the process. A penalty order of 1000 euros was issued against the woman from Hamburg, who is said to have had an affair with Metzelder, against which she has appealed.
The woman's Hamburg lawyer had rejected the accusation that his client was a provocateur who lured the former Bundesliga star into a trap: “My client's behavior has nothing to do with provocation.
Metzelder steered the conversation towards sexual fantasies with minors.
She did what was necessary to prevent crimes against children.
That takes a lot of courage, ”he said
when
asked by the
dpa
.
Allegations against Christoph Metzelder: 297 criminal files on the cellphone of the ex-national player?
Since the proceedings against her in Hamburg have not yet been concluded, she is allowed to refuse to testify.
It is also unclear whether Metzelder's cell phone can be used as evidence.
297 criminal files are said to have been discovered on the mobile phone.
At the beginning of September 2019, investigators missed out on ex-national Metzelder at the DFB * football teacher training course in Hennef.
His room there and Metzelder's Düsseldorf apartment were searched.
The Düsseldorf District Court has set three trial days for the case until May 10th.
Astrid Stammerjohann will be the judge in the process.
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List of rubric lists: © Federico Gambarini / dpa