Schwerin: Fatal accident – ​​court examines intentional homicide!

Schwerin: Fatal accident – ​​court examines intentional homicide!

In Schwerin, the regional court is currently dealing with a tragic traffic accident that cost the life of a 65-year-old driver in February 2024. The 69-year-old driver, who is accused of crashing into the woman's vehicle at a speed of at least 130 km/h, now faces a charge of negligent homicide. This is reported by the Baltic Sea newspaper.

The tragedy occurred in a 30 zone in the Lankow district, which is well frequented by residents. The accident attracted attention not only in the region but also nationally, particularly through the TV report “Doc Caro – every life counts”.

Investigation of the circumstances

The district court initially returned the case because it considered further investigations necessary. However, the charge of negligent homicide remained, which is enshrined in Section 222 of the Criminal Code. This is a special offense to protect life that is often used in traffic accidents when intentional homicide is ruled out.

The indictment is based on a medical report that certifies that the defendant had an illness that may have led to the accident. The driver himself claims to have suffered a seizure while driving. However, an MRI after the incident showed no evidence of such an incident, reinforcing doubts about his explanation.

Attorney Opinion and Concerns

The victim's relatives' lawyer, Ullrich Knye, expresses considerable concerns about the legal assessment of the case. The speed of the vehicle in particular could indicate a conditional intention to kill. This could mean the difference between negligent homicide and intentional homicide. The discussion about the conclusiveness of the report makes it clear how complex the case is and what questions are raised here.

Another aspect that should not go unmentioned is the increasing number of cases of negligent homicide that are being recorded by the police in Germany. According to current statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office, there is a worrying trend in this direction. Here are various numbers observed between 2014 and 2024:

The cases of negligent homicide, such as those seen in Schwerin, not only raise legal questions, but also challenge society to think about responsibility and care in road traffic. It remains to be seen how the district court will evaluate this complex case.