Germany / Federal Court of Justice, Karlsruhe / 5 StR 435/14
Country
Germany
Year
Decision/ruling/judgment date
Incident(s) concerned/related
Related Bias motivation
Groups affected
Court/Body type
Court/Body
Key facts of the case
Two residents of Polish origin harassed passersby in the Berlin city centre. An African was called "Nigger" in Polish language. A Russian speaking witness understood the insult and intervened in Russian. The insulters physically attacked the Russian speaking witness and both continued with potentially deadly kicks on the unconscious victim. Other passersby intervened and stopped the assault. The regional court of Berlin could not establish an intention to kill the victim and ruled on the ground of dangerous assault on xenophobic motives.
Main reasoning/argumentation
The attackers did not stop the assault on the unconscious victim regardless first interventions by passer-by’s and stopped the assault only after loud and decisive intervention by witnesses.
Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?
Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case
Indicators for condoning homicide: Continuation of potentially deadly assault notwithstanding first interventions by witnesses; disdainful attitude and utterances towards the victim during the previous court procedure.
Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case
Voiding of the previous ruling of the Regional Court Berlin. Obligation to consider the indicators for condoning homicide in a revised ruling.
Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details
"The fact that the offender did not stop the assault voluntarily, but only after loud intervention by passer-by's, constitutes a strong indicator for the attitude of the offender regarding a potential homicide of the victim."
"Der Tatsache, dass der Täter nicht freiwillig, sondern erst nach lautstarker Aufforderung von sich nähernden Passanten mit der Misshandlung des Opfers aufhörte, kann ein hoher Indizwert für die innere Einstellung der Täter gegenüber einer möglichen Tötung des Opfers zukommen."