In the trial of the fire in a planned brothel in Reiskirchen, police officers testified as witnesses. One reported that a weapon had been found.
Reiskirchen – Two competing brothels in one street: The police had a special eye on this special situation in the commercial area of Reiskirchen, even before it burned in the smaller of the two establishments during the renovation phase on the night of May 14, 2018. In the trial against the two men, who are accused of having started the fire, said on Monday at the Giessen Regional Court in front of the 7th major criminal chamber chaired by Dr. Kathrin Exler again selected several police officers. Including a 47-year-old who had found a pistol during a search on the premises of the former Hotel Alberg, today’s nudist village.
According to his own statements, the man had no access to the files in advance of his testimony and he was unable to provide any information on many details. “That was three years ago and since then I have had around a thousand missions,” the officer justified his memory gaps. Even at the time – was it during the day or at night? – he couldn’t say anything and once again referred to the files.
Gießen district: gun found in canal near brothel in Reiskirchen
He described the events in May 2018 as follows: After a phone call to the police, which raised concerns about an escalation of the situation in Carl-Benz-Straße, several patrols and officers from the permanent detective service rushed to Reiskirchen. Several people were checked at the former Hotel Alberg. The witness could not remember the presence of the two defendants. “I know the gentlemen. But I can’t tell if they were there. ”In any case, the check was fruitless. No dangerous objects or weapons were found. The witness reported that he then had the idea to search the post area. “When opponents are facing each other and want to grab their throats, they usually have weapons with them,” he says. “They had to be somewhere.”
As a matter of fact. A handgun was found on the gravel site of the construction site at the time, in a covered sewer shaft. A Walther pistol with a serial number etched out and an inserted magazine, not fully loaded – that’s what it says in the files.
District of Giessen: Discussion about testimony to brothel investigations in Reiskirchen
Frank Richtberg and Henner Maaß, the lawyers of the two defendants, followed up. Had there been a search warrant? Who made the decision? Was there any danger that was imminent? Has anyone contacted a judge or public prosecutor on site? Prosecutor Rouven Spieler objected that it was not a residential building and that the judge’s reservation for a search was not given. And presiding judge Dr. Katrin Exler noted that in some situations, preventive and repressive measures could mix.
Lawyer Maaß pointed out, however, that the pistol had been found 25 meters from the property line. “That looks like a targeted search.” Both defense attorneys contradicted the use of this testimony.
Also on the witness stand on this fourth day of the trial were three police officers who were involved in the arrest of Defendant B. on September 3, 2020. At this point in time, there was a warrant for arrest against the 38-year-old. The investigators reported that B. was arrested at the Giessen exhibition center when he approached a gray Ford Focus that contained two sacks of fresh clothes.
District of Giessen: The accused in the brothel trial was known to the police
At that time, he had given up his apartment in downtown Giessen and there was nothing to indicate a recent presence with his mother next door either. The license plate of the gray station wagon had been stolen a few months earlier in Biebertal; a Butzbach used car dealer had offered the car for 1000 euros and sold it to an unknown customer for cash without a contract.
“It was not the first time that we had to arrest Mr. B.,” reported one of the investigators, who could only wonder about the behavior of the accused. How could someone who is so well known in the city take the risk of driving around with a stolen license plate. The process continues.
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