Overview
- A 45-year-old manager is on trial in Ettenheim on eight counts of negligent bodily injury tied to the Europa-Park water-show collapse.
- He acknowledged using fewer screws than specified and foregoing required anchoring, saying the park barred floor anchors to protect the lake’s seal and sandbags were used instead.
- Presiding judge Wolfram Wegmann rejected the reliance on inherited practices, emphasizing that the assembly manual had to be followed.
- Prosecutors accuse him of ignoring key safety measures during installation; an expert and seven witnesses are scheduled, and a same-day verdict is possible.
- Europa-Park says attractions receive TÜV inspections and daily internal checks, continues working with the contractor, and has staged a modified version of the show since 2024.