Convertible driver has to go to court: public prosecutor demands harsher punishment!

Convertible driver has to go to court: public prosecutor demands harsher punishment!

A dramatic incident on the island of Rügen is making headlines again. As ndr.de reports, the trial against a 47-year-old convertible driver is being reopened. The Stralsund public prosecutor's office has appealed against the verdict of the Bergen district court, which sentenced the driver to a fine of 12,000 euros and a driving license revocation of one and a half years. The authorities consider the sentence to be too low and doubt the witness statements.

The incident took place on August 14 when the 13-year-old boy was out with his classmates. According to the accusation, the man is said to have intentionally hit the student. In the closing argument, the public prosecutor demanded a two-year suspended prison sentence. In an impact at at least 25 km/h, the boy suffered serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury and other wounds.

Witness statements and the defense

The statements of classmates, who reported that the driver turned his car and drove specifically towards the boy, play a central role in the case. However, an expert's assessment could not prove any intentional action by the driver. Ultimately, the man was only convicted of negligent bodily harm, not of dangerous bodily harm, as butenunbinnen.de reports.

A search for the driver and his vehicle continued for weeks after the incident. The police finally found the convertible on September 5th during a house search on the defendant's premises - hidden under tarpaulins and blankets behind furniture. The defendant explained that this was done on the advice of his lawyer, which further complicated the man's defense.

Road safety in focus

The case highlights road safety, an issue that affects millions of people every year. In 2023, there were around 2.5 million road traffic accidents in Germany, as statista.com documented. While the number of accidents has increased due to increased traffic, the number of accidents resulting in personal injuries remains constant. It is alarming that the causes often include insufficient distance, improper speed and driving under the influence of alcohol. Even in the context of modern mobility, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, safety remains a major challenge, with 23,744 people injured or killed in this area in 2023 alone.

The next steps in the convertible driver's case are eagerly awaited. The exact date for the new hearing before the Stralsund Regional Court has not yet been set. It also remains unclear whether the witnesses will have to testify again. The fact is that this incident has not only legal but also social implications for road safety.