Murder trial in Berlin
Sailor is said to have drowned his friend – verdict awaited
January 19, 2026 – 11:10 a.mReading time: 1 Min.
An argument on a sailboat ended fatally in August 2024. After six months of trial, the Berlin Regional Court decides the fate of the defendant.
While returning from a sailing regatta, two friends get into an argument. One of the men dies off the Swedish coast. The other is charged with murder. After a six-month trial surrounding the 71-year-old’s death, the Berlin regional court wants to announce its verdict on Monday (3:30 p.m.).
The public prosecutor’s office has requested a life sentence against the 66-year-old defendant for malicious murder. The defense argued for acquittal. According to the lawyers, it was a “dramatically failed rescue attempt.”
According to the prosecution, the pensioner is said to have drowned his long-time friend and sailing partner in August 2024 after mutual scuffles. He is said to have approached the 71-year-old lawyer from behind by swimming and finally pushed him under the water. There had previously been an argument on the trimaran.
The public prosecutor’s office bases its indictment on video recordings of parts of the events in the open sea, which were accidentally taken from a Swedish Coast Guard aircraft at an altitude of around 1,000 meters. The defendant was arrested in Sweden shortly after the 71-year-old’s death. He has been in custody in Berlin since November 2024.
