Shock in Ribnitz See: Deadly Bootunglück - judgment controversial!

Shock in Ribnitz See: Deadly Bootunglück - judgment controversial!

Ribnitz, Deutschland - Today is all about the tragic boat accident on Lake Ribnitz, which cost a woman in August 2022. On a summer evening - more precisely on August 16 - around 9:30 p.m., about 500 meters from the port of Ribnitz, there was a collision between two motor boats. The 66-year-old passenger of the other boat lost her life, which deeply shook the community and the families affected.

to blame or not? This question arose in the current procedure against Ortwin S., the 38-year-old boat leader, who was convicted of negligent killing on June 18. The court found that he had violated the duty of care because his boat raced into the other Bark occupied with six people. The judgment provided for a prison sentence of six months on probation. The railroader Ostsee-Zeitung Criminal order over 2,000 euros in fine and nine months of probation, against which he objected.

But the dispute has not yet ended. The boat guide has appealed to the judgment, and so the guilty verdict is therefore not final. The defense has already taken an aggressive strategy to contest the judgment. It remains to be seen whether the next instance will bring to light. For Ortwin S., it's not just about his freedom, but also about his future.

A little light in the dark of the legal debate brings the definition of negligent killing. This represents a crime in Germany according to § 222 StGB that occurs when someone causes the death of another person through negligence without intention to intend. The punishments go up to five years of imprisonment or fine. The driver's license may also be withdrawn, which could have dramatic consequences for a boat driver. As lawyer Erhard explains, the punishment strongly depends on the severity of negligence and personal circumstances of the perpetrator. In the case of Ortwin S., the fact that he claimed that he had not seen the other boat could play a role in the appeal.