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Oldenburg Prosecutors Charge Police Officer With Negligent Homicide in Lorenz Shooting

Prosecutors say the 27-year-old wrongly but avoidably believed he faced a knife attack when the 21-year-old fled.

Overview

  • The indictment follows months of investigation and carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine.
  • Investigators report the officer fired from behind as Lorenz ran, hitting him at least three times in the torso, hip and head before he died in hospital.
  • Evidence cited by prosecutors says Lorenz used irritant spray against the officer and did not use a knife at the time of the shooting.
  • The Regional Court in Oldenburg will decide whether to admit the case and open the main trial.
  • The family’s lawyers and the ‘Gerechtigkeit für Lorenz’ initiative criticize the lesser charge and press for a manslaughter case and additional independent inquiries, while officials emphasize the presumption of innocence and due process.