At the end of April, the ex-soccer player Christoph Metzelder had to answer before the Düsseldorf District Court “because of the company providing another person with possession of child pornography in 29 cases and possession of child and youth pornography in another case”. The 40-year-old denies the allegations made by a woman of about the same age.
Photos of sexual violence against children via Whatsapp
This witness gave an interview to a ZEIT journalist about the case: “And then came the terrible pictures“(Pay barrier). The woman anonymously – under a false name – tells how Christoph Metzelder contacted her via Instagram in 2018. After exchanging messages, she met him – first in a restaurant, then in a hotel in Hamburg Spent a night together. Months later, Metzelder is said to have suggested via chat to have threesome sex with a teenager.
The woman says she played along to see how far he would go. Metzelder sent her photos of naked girls and sexual violence against children via Whatsapp. She invented two young nieces whom he should have taken to Sylt on vacation together.
But then the witness turned to the police in Hamburg – at the request of a friend and apparently also on the advice of a BILD journalist. The investigation against Metzelder was passed on to North Rhine-Westphalia because of the former footballer’s residence.
“Motivating actions” of the witness
But under the title “Witness and accused“reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung:” It is the story of a woman who in all probability will end up at the center of a much-noticed court case. As of now, she is on the one hand a witness in the proceedings against the former professional soccer player Christoph Metzelder – and on the other hand a suspect herself. ”The Hamburg public prosecutor’s office has initiated investigations against the witness because of“ motivating acts ”.
Metzelder’s lawyers had sued against the naming of their client and against a press release from the Düsseldorf District Court. But they only achieved a correction of the information. The judiciary may continue to report on the “allegation in abstract form with reference to the presumption of innocence” – even if the accused has not been convicted.
The Metzelder case is also the subject of controversy on social media.
Christoph Metzelder, who had a daughter born in 2009, had been socially committed for years and also campaigned against child abuse. As a defender, he played in the German national team, for Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and FC Schalke 04. After that, the ex-professional footballer worked as a TV expert for Sky Germany and ARD.
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