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German court jails man over death of student who tried to help harassed girls | German court jails man over death of student who tried to help harassed girls |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A German court has jailed an 18-year-old man for three years over the death of a young Turkish-German woman whose name became synonymous with civil courage after she defended two girls who were being harassed in a fast-food restaurant and paid with her life. | |
The panel of judges in the western city of Darmstadt found Sanel Masovic guilty of inflicting bodily harm with fatal consequences during a confrontation in a fast-food restaurant last November. | The panel of judges in the western city of Darmstadt found Sanel Masovic guilty of inflicting bodily harm with fatal consequences during a confrontation in a fast-food restaurant last November. |
The verdict came in just under the prosecution’s call for three years and three months in prison. The defence had requested a suspended sentence. | The verdict came in just under the prosecution’s call for three years and three months in prison. The defence had requested a suspended sentence. |
The presiding judge, Jens Assling, said Masovic had not wanted student teacher Tuğçe Albayrak, 22, to die, saying the accused was “no killer”. | |
But he added that “no verdict in the world could in any way make up for the loss” suffered by Albayrak’s parents and brother. | But he added that “no verdict in the world could in any way make up for the loss” suffered by Albayrak’s parents and brother. |
The victim’s mother and friends wept as the verdict was read out, while Masovic sat impassively in the packed courtroom. | The victim’s mother and friends wept as the verdict was read out, while Masovic sat impassively in the packed courtroom. |
The fateful altercation began when Albayrak confronted a group of men for harassing two 14-year-old girls in the toilets of the restaurant. | The fateful altercation began when Albayrak confronted a group of men for harassing two 14-year-old girls in the toilets of the restaurant. |
The groups later shouted insults at each other outside in the car park. | The groups later shouted insults at each other outside in the car park. |
Masovic admitted during his nearly two-month trial, which heard from more than 60 witnesses, that he slapped Albayrak so hard that she fell to the ground, putting her in a coma. | |
She died days later in hospital, on her 23rd birthday, when her parents took her off life support. | She died days later in hospital, on her 23rd birthday, when her parents took her off life support. |
The attack was captured on a surveillance video that was later broadcast on national media, drawing a wave of shock and revulsion. | |
“I am deeply sorry for what I did,” Masovic told the juvenile district court at the start of the trial in April. | “I am deeply sorry for what I did,” Masovic told the juvenile district court at the start of the trial in April. |
“I can’t imagine the pain and suffering I inflicted on her family. I never thought she would die.” | “I can’t imagine the pain and suffering I inflicted on her family. I never thought she would die.” |
About 1,000 mourners attended Albayrak’s funeral and Germany’s president, Joachim Gauck, has said he is considering a mass online petition for her to be posthumously awarded the Federal Order of Merit, Germany’s highest civilian distinction. | About 1,000 mourners attended Albayrak’s funeral and Germany’s president, Joachim Gauck, has said he is considering a mass online petition for her to be posthumously awarded the Federal Order of Merit, Germany’s highest civilian distinction. |
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has also expressed support for awarding the honour to a woman whom Gauck called a role model for showing “bravery and civil courage in an exemplary way”. | |
Masovic’s lawyer, Heinz-Jürgen Borowsky, said he would appeal against the verdict, calling it overly harsh. | Masovic’s lawyer, Heinz-Jürgen Borowsky, said he would appeal against the verdict, calling it overly harsh. |
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