Overview
- The Amtsgericht München found it could not form a clear picture of what happened in a parish house in the Dachau district and issued a not-guilty verdict.
- The court pointed to multiple conflicting versions from the young woman, applying the principle of in dubio pro reo.
- Prosecutors had sought three years and nine months in prison and maintained the woman was credible, describing the conduct as a sexual assault.
- The 68-year-old defendant stayed mostly silent during the trial before denying any coercion in his final statement.
- The Archdiocese had already revoked his retired pastor title, the woman received a €3,000 recognition payment, and a church process remains on hold at prosecutors’ request, with a prosecution appeal still possible.