In the ongoing jury trial about the assassination attempt on a Cologne businessman in Porz-Wahn, the victim in the district court has drawn the displeasure of the presiding judge Alexander Fühling. “Don’t tell me anything, you’re just talking yourself into trouble,” said Fühling, after the witness had repeatedly made only cautious comments.
Cologne: Victim initially did not give a name
Previously, defense attorneys Martin Bücher and Martin Heising had cross-examined the victim, who had suffered two bullet wounds in his arm and leg during the attack. The attorneys wanted to know why the 54-year-old only later decided that his former business partner had ordered the attack, but remained silent during initial questioning by the police.
The defendants with the defense lawyers Oliver Kleine and Martin Heising at the restart of the trial in the district court
The man who was shot at initially claimed that he had not received any threats prior to the incident and that he had not had any problems with anyone else at the time. Then, however, the name of the business partner who is now accused was mentioned, who had made death threats prior to the attack. According to the indictment, the allegations concerned possible debts in the high six-figure euro range.
Cologne: Businessman speaks of fear for his family
“I couldn’t imagine at that moment that a person was so sick that he would do that,” said the victim, explaining why he hadn’t initially mentioned the defendant’s name. But he knew that the accused was apparently not squeamish, the judge interjected. The witness then admitted that he had been afraid that something worse would happen to him or his family.
The defense then quoted from police interviews with the wife of the man who had been shot. She had reported threats from other people, such as members of a family clan. She had also said that she was afraid for her husband. When asked whether that was true, the witness was hesitant. “Was your wife afraid for you?” Judge Fühling asked specifically. “Apparently so,” the witness replied.
Cologne judge to witness: “That’s such a shitty answer”
In addition to the former business partner, the alleged shooter is also in the dock. According to the prosecution, he is said to have shot the victim from a car. Both defendants remain silent. The incident was already tried in 2019. However, the trial had to be stopped after a judge became pregnant and had to go on maternity leave.
