Overview
- Judges concluded a 22-year-old died weeks after a March 2022 tattoo from a bacterial infection that led to septic multiorgan failure.
- The court said the infection likely occurred during the tattoo but the exact transmission route could not be proven, with airborne spread considered plausible and masks not legally required.
- An RKI expert reported near-identical bacterial genomes in samples from the victim and the defendant, indicating likely transmission during the procedure.
- Prosecutors sought a nine-month suspended sentence and a €2,000 fine, while the victim’s representative pursued compensation, as the defense argued alternative transmission paths and unforeseeability.
- The court rejected the mother’s adhesion claim for €10,000 in pain and €10,000 in bereavement damages, and the verdict remains open to appeal.