Six-year-old Leonie dies in January 2019 – after her stepfather has punished her. He got “life” for murder. Now the mother has to answer in court.
Neubrandenburg – Almost three years after the violent death of six-year-old Leonie from Torgelow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the trial against her mother begins today.
The 27-year-old has to answer to the district court of Neubrandenburg for negligent homicide by failure. She is said not to have stopped the repeated mistreatment of Leonie and her two-year-old brother by the stepfather and then not to get help in time.
Conviction of the stepfather
The girl was found dead on January 12, 2019 in the apartment of the family of five in Torgelow. According to the judges at the regional court, the stepfather had brutally mistreated Leonie and then prevented the emergency services from being called in time for a long time. This should not make the acts of violence known. The now 30-year-old stepfather was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by omission and mistreatment of those under protection, which is now also final. (Case file against stepfather: 6 StR 134/20)
The stepfather had always remained silent about this in two trials. The mother had reported behind closed doors about the acts of violence of her partner.
For the new trial at the district court, access to the hall is only possible for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people due to the corona situation, with limited seats. So far, four days of negotiations are planned. Leonie’s biological father, with whom her little brother now lives, appears as a joint plaintiff, as in the previous trials.
There is a prison sentence of several years for negligent homicide by omission. However, lawyers also consider it possible that the mother could be convicted of failing to provide assistance. dpa
