Overview
- Presiding judge Thomas Lenz said Deutsche Bahn is acting contrary to its promises of cooperation after a key witness limited her testimony.
- The DB-appointed lawyer, identified in court as Ulrike Thole-Groll, answered only about a specific pre-police conversation after saying she was not fully released from confidentiality.
- Several dispatchers testified the lawyer spoke with them before police interviews and urged minimal divergences in their technical assessments, which she disputes.
- A civil engineer described the route as burdened by numerous slow zones, underscoring internal assessments of a deteriorated track before experts present their reports next week.
- Two former DB employees face charges of negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm over the June 3, 2022 derailment that killed five and injured dozens, with closing arguments planned next and a possible verdict discussed for January 19.