Given the age of the accused (he was 16 at the time of the facts on May 28 and is now 17), the trial is being held behind closed doors.
“The indictment was read this morning.
The player did not speak
,” the Frankfurt court spokesperson told AFP, adding that an Arabic interpreter was present.
“Witnesses from Berlin must be heard this afternoon
,” he added.
A prison sentence of up to 10 years
The player who is in pre-trial detention risks a prison sentence of between 6 months and 10 years, according to the spokesperson.
He was indicted in mid-December for assault and battery in two cases, one of which resulted in a death.
The fight between several players occurred on the football field, during a tournament in Frankfurt hosting youth teams from 16 different countries, most of them European.
It took place after a match between the team of the accused and that of the 15-year-old player, Paul, who died a few days later of his injuries, JFC Berlin.
The accused was then playing within the FC Metz Performance Program, a structure integrated into the Lorraine club and which allows
“young footballers or educators from all over the world to have access to a high-level training structure”
.
Several people from both clubs will be heard
The French club FC Metz said it was
“deeply shocked by this tragedy”
.
The young Berliner who died
“as a result of his serious brain injuries”
, according to the police, had been kept on artificial life for a few days so that he could donate his organs.
The parents of the deceased footballer, who became civil parties, were not present during the trial and were represented by a Berlin lawyer.
During the trial, witnesses such as players, coaches of both teams, as well as other people present during the tournament must be heard.
The verdict is currently scheduled for March 4.