A 56-year-old is said to be spending the rest of his life behind bars for a murder in the ’90s. But before the warrant is carried out, the man manages to escape. The police are puzzled.
Munich – The police just won’t let go of this murder case. More than a quarter of a century passed between the violent death of a 16-year-old and the conclusion of the trial of a now 56-year-old, which resulted in a guilty verdict. But now the law enforcement officers have to go on the hunt for the convicted murderer – because he has been on the run since Tuesday evening.
The man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Dortmund Regional Court on January 25 of this year for the murder of Nicole Schalla 27 years ago. But because the verdict was not yet final and the judges saw no risk of fleeing, Ralf H. was allowed to continue to live in freedom.
Murderer on the run: ankle shackles removed as the verdict became final
An electronic ankle cuff revealed his whereabouts around the clock. But he put it aside when the judgment became final a few days ago following a decision by the Federal Court of Justice. Which would have resulted in the man going behind bars in a timely manner.
On Tuesday the public prosecutor wanted to execute the arrest warrant, but in the evening H., who lived in Münster, had separated from his ankle cuffs. In contrast to his partner, who, according to investigators, appears to be an escape helper. According to dpa information, the public prosecutor’s office in Münster is therefore checking whether an arrest warrant can also be obtained against the woman. There was initially no official comment.
The police conduct searches publicly and receive a lot of information from the population
The police called H. to search. In doing so, they rely on the help of the population – relevant information on the whereabouts can be passed on to the Münster police on 0251/2752222 or to any other police station.
Although numerous information about the whereabouts of the fugitive had already been received, he was nowhere to be found, the police said. H. is described as follows: He is 1.80 meters tall, weighs around 80 kilograms, is slim, has brown, thin hair, and his eyes are blue-gray.
Murder in 1993: Young people are said to have fought for their lives for up to eight minutes
Nicole Schalla was found dead on October 14, 1993 not far from her parents’ house. Her panties were torn, her private parts exposed. The perpetrator is said to have ambushed her near a bus stop and grabbed her from behind. The autopsy indicated that the teenager had fought for her life for five to eight minutes before she passed out.
It was not until 25 years later that DNA traces found could be assigned to H. thanks to new technology. Because a judge fell ill during the trial, it had to be restarted. The accused had already been in custody for two years before the judge’s verdict – because he was no longer expected to spend more time behind bars without a judgment, he was released. In the end, he stayed there as long as the revision was ongoing.
Police check apartment and arbor – fugitive murderer has disappeared
The ankle cuff was necessary, however, because H. could pose a further risk of serious crimes against women. So it reports the picture , which also refers to the fact that the Federal Court of Justice only informed the public prosecutor and the defense attorney that the judgment is now final. The police, however, did not know anything about it.
According to the report, around 8:10 p.m. on the evening of work, H. is said to have taken off his ankle cuffs and cell phone in an industrial area in Münster-Gremmendorf before he disappeared without a trace. The police went to all addresses, his apartment and also an arbor that served him as an overnight accommodation – without any result.
Escape probably by car or by train – attorney for co-prosecution speaks of a “nightmare”
There are some indications that the escape was planned longer. H. and his fiancée are probably traveling by car or train.
“It was to be expected that the accused and now convicted would not voluntarily begin life imprisonment,” the tabloid quoted the attorney for co-prosecution Dr. Arabella Pooth, who represents Nicole Schalla’s parents: “Neither can I explain to my clients that her daughter’s killer is gone now. It’s a nightmare. ” (Mg)
