Suche
Mein Konto
20-year-old torches Wolgaster mill – suspended sentence for boredom!
A 20-year-old was convicted of setting fire to the historic mill in Wolgast. Motive: boredom.
20-year-old torches Wolgaster mill – suspended sentence for boredom!
A 20-year-old was convicted of arson by the youth lay judge of the Greifswald district court on September 25, 2023. He is responsible for the devastating fire at the historic Wendorf mill in Wolgast, which set everything ablaze in August 2023 and is considered one of the largest fires in the region in recent years. According to the Baltic Sea newspaper The defendant admitted that boredom drove him to the crime.
On the evening of August 4th, the young man was on the grounds of the mill and for inexplicable reasons set fire to a tractor in an adjacent shed. When the fire broke out, he fled the scene while the fire department with over 70 firefighters fought for hours to put out the flames. Unfortunately, the fire could not be prevented from spreading to the mill and the building eventually burned down completely. The total damage is estimated by the police at around 290,000 euros, whereas the ideal value of the mill, which has shaped Wolgast's cityscape since 1880, is considered invaluable Northern Courier highlights.
The consequences of arson
As is well known, the penalties for arson in juvenile criminal law are not without their consequences. The defendant received a one-year youth sentence on probation, he must perform 100 hours of community service and is supported by a probation and supervision officer. If he violates the conditions, he could face a sentence in a juvenile correctional facility. This is particularly important because arson can not only cause serious damage to property, but also pose a threat to human life. The Criminal defense page points out that punishments in juvenile criminal law can vary depending on the severity of the crime, the age of the perpetrator and the exact circumstances.
In addition, the owner of the mill could also file a civil lawsuit against the convict to obtain compensation for the damage caused. The young man currently has no intention of appealing the verdict, meaning the legal consequences of his actions could soon take effect. It's a sad chapter for Wolgast, whose historic mill is now a thing of the past.