Father beats daughter with walking stick – suspended sentence imposed!

Father beats daughter with walking stick – suspended sentence imposed!

In a shocking incident at the Stoppelmarkt in Vechta in August 2024, there was a physical assault that now has legal consequences. The Vechta district court has sentenced a 56-year-old father to a suspended sentence of one year for dangerous bodily harm, as NDR reports. However, this penalty imposed is not yet legally binding.

The background to the incident is just as unpleasant as the incident itself: the father was extremely dissatisfied with the short clothing of his 20-year-old daughter, who wanted to visit the stubble market. When the kind words failed to materialize, a heated argument broke out. The 20-year-old's son, who was in the apartment, called his father for help after his sister refused to "see" what he thought was right. The reason for the aggression exposed a sad facet of domestic violence that is widespread in Germany, as NWZonline notes.

A shocking attack

The argument escalated when the father, in his angry mood, picked up a walking stick and hit his daughter. The result was injuries to the upper arms, shoulders and wrists. Even an older sister who stood protectively in front of the victim was not spared and suffered minor injuries. In order to put a stop to it all, the two women, very afraid of their father, called the police for help. But when the officers arrived, the father had already disappeared from the apartment.

The defendant is not unknown in the police database. He has not lived with his family since 2017 and has already received suspended sentences in the past, including for theft. It is all the more tragic that he has now been sentenced to a year of probation. He also has to pay 1,000 euros to the “Weißer Ring” victim support organization, which is one of the conditions of his sentence.

The overall social context

Domestic violence is a serious issue in Germany, which often only happens in the darkness of one's own four walls. Statistics show that in 2023 around 181,000 of the victims of domestic violence were women, as Statista reports. Many of the crimes go unnoticed because the shame and guilt of those affected often prevent them from being reported. Violence against women is not just physical, but also has profound psychological effects on the victims.

The soul suffers, especially when the victim is attacked from within his own family. Women often feel particularly vulnerable, especially in the dark. Support systems such as the “Violence Against Women” helpline on 116 016 are available to assist those affected, even if demand often exceeds supply, as statistics show.

The father's conviction shows that the constitutional state is fulfilling its responsibility. But the case also reminds us that much more needs to be done to protect those affected and make their voices heard. It remains to be hoped that such incidents will become a thing of the past in the future.