New twist in the trial surrounding the killing of a man at the Wittlich Säubrenner fair: the US soldier’s defense attorney is now accusing another American soldier.
There is only one man who has blood on his hands. And that is not his client. Those were the first words of the defendant’s defense attorney in his opening statement. And he is referring to the second American soldier who is said to have been present at the fatal knife attack. According to the defense, it was he who stabbed the 28-year-old victim to death at the Säubrenner fair in Wittlich a year ago.
Prosecutor: Evidence points to defendant
Both men were originally arrested. But only one of them, a 26-year-old aircraft mechanic, is sitting in the dock. His companion is at large again and was only given disciplinary punishment. The reason: The public prosecutor believes his version of the crime. Accordingly, it was the 26-year-old who stabbed.
All traces and evidence point to this, the prosecutor said in her opening statement. However, the defense casts doubt on this theory. He said today that there were eyewitnesses who incriminated the other soldier. They also observed that he was the one who started the argument. He also had traces of the victim’s blood on his clothing, his shoulder bag and his hands.
The first witnesses testify
From today onwards, witnesses for the prosecution will also be heard at the hearing. The first witness in the trial was a police officer from Trier. The investigator described, among other things, how the murder weapon was found beneath the Wittlich Roman Bridge before the US military court in Spangdahlem.
The witness also had to identify the knife in front of the jury in the courtroom. According to her statement, the police officer was also present when the apartment of the accused US soldier in Wittlich was searched. According to her, the investigators also seized shoes smeared with blood.
Jurors decide guilt
The jury that will ultimately decide the defendant’s guilt was selected on the last two days of the trial.
The defendant had already done so on the first Pleaded innocent on the day of the trial. If found guilty, the soldier faces life in prison. He is said to have stabbed a 28-year-old to death on the sidelines of the Säubrenner fair last year.
Broadcast on Wed, October 2nd, 2024 9:30 a.m., SWR4 RP Studio Trier
