Father convicted of grievous bodily harm: daughter injured with walking stick!

Father convicted of grievous bodily harm: daughter injured with walking stick!

In a shocking case that has shaken the community of Vechta, a 56-year-old father was sentenced to a suspended sentence of one year. He confessed to beating his 20-year-old daughter with a walking stick after being annoyed about her clothing. This is what NDR reports about the incident that occurred in August 2024, shortly before his daughter wanted to visit the popular Stoppelmarkt.

The situation escalated when the daughter's brother, who found the clothing inappropriate, denied his sister access to the event. In a desperate reaction, the shocked sisters called the police because they were afraid of their father. However, when the officers arrived, the defendant had already disappeared from the apartment and has been living separately from his family since 2017.

Injuries and legal consequences

The daughter suffered injuries to her upper arms, shoulders and wrists during the incident. The sister who stood protectively in front of the 20-year-old was also injured. The Vechta district court convicted the father of grievous bodily harm (according to Section 224 of the Criminal Code) and ordered him to pay 1,000 euros to the victim support organization such as the White Ring. Such a sentence is not only intended to punish the perpetrator, but also to make amends for those who suffered from the physical abuse.

Dangerous bodily harm is a serious form of bodily harm that is prosecuted without criminal charges. This shows how serious the legal consequences are for such acts. According to statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office, cases of bodily harm in Germany have increased in recent years, which underlines the seriousness of the crimes, as can be read on Statista.

Personal injury and its legal framework

Physical assault, especially those that occur in a family environment, not only reflect an individual tragedy, but also a problem for society as a whole. Section 223 of the Criminal Code punishes physical abuse with a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine. In the case of dangerous bodily harm, the punishment can be significantly higher, which in the current case resulted in a suspended sentence and financial requirements.

It remains to be seen what the verdict will be on appeal, as the defendant's defense attorney has already announced that he will appeal the verdict. Given the defendant's past, who is already known to the police and has received several suspended sentences for theft, this could lead to another chapter in this sad story.

The events surrounding domestic violence and the shocking number of physical injuries in Germany make it clear: There is still a lot to do, both from a legal and social perspective. Prevention and education are essential to avoid such tragic incidents in the future.

Stay tuned to our coverage for more details on this and similar cases as we monitor legal developments.