Background: Alleged Insults at Siegsdorfer Straße Festival

A case involving alleged insults directed at law enforcement officers is set to be heard in Traunstein, Germany. The incident reportedly occurred around 1:05 a.m. on May 20, 2024, near the Siegsdorfer Straße spring festival grounds.The individuals who claim to have been offended, all of whom were reportedly in uniform at the time, filed a criminal complaint against the accused. All parties involved have been summoned to appear as witnesses at a hearing scheduled for July 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Defence Seeks Private Consultation,Raises Questions about Evidence

Ricarda Lang,the defense attorney from Munich,initiated proceedings by requesting a private meeting with the court and prosecutor nils Wewer. This request was made before any witnesses were called, a point that Lang emphasized, noting her surprise at the presence of the press. She alluded to similar criminal proceedings against lawyers in Munich. The prosecutor, though, rejected the request for a private consultation. Following this denial, Lang stated that her client would not be providing any information at that time.

Lang further questioned the validity of the evidence, specifically the absence of the alleged insulting statements in bodycam footage. She raised the possibility that the officers’ feelings of offence might stem from reasons other than the specific words attributed to her client. Judge Markus Kring, however, dismissed concerns about the admissibility of the testimony.

no exploitation problem
Judge Markus Kring

The defense attorney highlighted that the district court had initially proposed a procedural settlement involving a €9,000 fine, a suggestion the public prosecutor rejected. The prosecutor suggested considering a warning with a reserved punishment, stating, If there were insults, you have to think about a warning with a punishment. I still see a viable path in it. This proposal was also rejected by the public prosecutor.

Court Acknowledges “Alcohol-Related Derailments,” Considers Witness Testimony

Judge Kring acknowledged a recurring pattern of “alcohol-related derailments” associated with folk festivals, noting an increase in offenses stemming from “lack of respect for police officers.” He indicated the court’s limited ability to compel the prosecutor to drop the case and deemed a “warning with punishment reservation” unattainable.Kring stated, From my 30 years of professional experience, I consider the 30 daily rates as a very moderate punishment.

The defense attorney described the proceedings as “very stressful” due to the media presence and renewed her request for a private consultation, which the prosecutor addressed.With an agreement proving elusive, the district court opted to hear testimony from the seven officers involved, as well as two companions of the accused – a lawyer and another individual from Munich – as suggested by Lang. Judge Kring announced that the bodycam recordings would also be reviewed on July 1. The defense explicitly stated that a psychiatric evaluation of the 34-year-old defendant, based on his level of intoxication at the time of the alleged crime, was unnecessary.

Potential for Harsher Penalty if Found Guilty

After reviewing the case file, Chairman Markus Kring concluded that it was “unlikely that the unfortunate statements did not like.” He added,At the moment I don’t see what the defense could achieve. And the confession bonus, which is taken into account in the punitive order, is no longer necessary. This statement suggests that a guilty verdict could result in a more severe punishment than initially proposed.