German Court Rules K.O. Drops Not a 'Dangerous Tool' in Legal Terms

The Federal Court overturned a previous ruling, mandating a retrial for a man convicted of using K.O. drops in a sexual assault case.

The Federal Court of Justice in Germany has ruled that K.O. drops do not qualify as a 'dangerous tool' under current criminal law.
The decision overturns a previous conviction by the Dresden Regional Court, which had sentenced a man to prison for using the drops in a sexual assault.
The court emphasized that a 'tool' must be a solid object, which excludes liquids like K.O. drops, even if administered with a pipette.
The case involved a man who allegedly drugged two women with a substance that metabolizes into K.O. drops, leading to severe health risks.
The case will be retried by a different chamber of the Dresden court, where the charges and potential penalties could be reassessed.