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Berlin Trial Opens Over Alleged Drowning of Sailing Partner

Hearings at the Landgericht Berlin run through October to probe whether the defendant deliberately drowned his sailing partner.

Overview

  • The trial began on July 9, 2025, at the Landgericht Berlin and is scheduled for twelve hearing days through October 8.
  • Prosecutors allege the 65-year-old held his 71-year-old friend underwater off the Swedish Kattegat after an August 1 dispute to conceal a prior assault.
  • The indictment states the defendant struck the victim on the head with a metal bracket, causing him to fall overboard before drowning.
  • The accused denies any intent to kill, insisting he jumped into the water in a failed attempt to rescue his friend after the initial struggle.
  • The case underscores legal challenges around intent at sea and the cross-border jurisdiction following his detention in Sweden and extradition to Germany.