A verdict is expected today in the trial of the fatal shot at a gas station employee in the dispute over the corona mask requirement a year ago.
Bad Kreuznach – Almost a year after the fatal shot at a gas station employee in Idar-Oberstein (Rhineland-Palatinate) in the dispute over the corona mask requirement, the verdict in the trial will be announced this Tuesday (September 13th). Prosecutors have asked for life imprisonment for the accused. The defense has dismissed the murder charge.
In addition to murdering the 20-year-old gas station employee, the indictment accuses the 50-year-old of illegally carrying the murder weapon and illegally possessing another firearm. The district court of Bad Kreuznach should also determine the particular severity of the guilt. If the court were to follow suit, a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment after 15 years would be legally possible, but practically impossible.
After gas station murder in Idar-Oberstein: No reasons for extenuating circumstances
According to an expert, the accused allegedly had around two per thousand alcohol in his blood when he did the crime on September 18, 2021. The German’s two lawyers pleaded manslaughter with significantly reduced criminal responsibility on the part of the accused. However, the public prosecutor sees no reason for mitigating circumstances. The assessment of controllability will play an important role in the verdict
The accused had confessed to getting a gun at home out of anger that the young cashier didn’t want to sell him beer without a corona mask and pulling the trigger when he visited the gas station again. There was also video footage of the crime. He didn’t have a gun license for the revolver. On the other hand, it remained disputed whether the 50-year-old acted out of base motives and malice and whether the guilt was particularly serious. In his last statement before the verdict was announced, the 50-year-old once again emphasized how sorry he was for the crime. (hg/dpa)
