Overview

• The Heilbronn court convicted the man of manslaughter and severe mistreatment of a dependent, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.
• The incident occurred in January in the apartment of the man's partner in Schwäbisch Hall, where he fatally injured his son after shaking him and striking his head against a refrigerator.
• The court determined the father acted out of frustration and overburdening, but his culpability was not diminished despite the act being committed in a moment of emotional distress.
• The man, who emigrated from Gambia in 2015, admitted to the crime during the trial, and the judgment is not yet legally binding as appeals are being considered.
• The ruling may also have significant immigration consequences for the father, who had previously been praised for his integration efforts in Germany.