Overview

• Wuppertal Regional Court failed to include the trial transcript with the written judgment, prompting the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court to order the release of a Leverkusen man sentenced to ten years for cocaine dealing.
• The defendant’s pretrial detention had reached 20 months when he was freed in early June after his defense argued excessive procedural duration.
• The Wuppertal court issued a statement expressing regret over the oversight, while the higher court ruled that missing transcripts constituted a serious procedural lapse.
• Lawyers for five co-defendants convicted in the same trial may now file appeals seeking similar releases.
• The incident has intensified scrutiny of systemic backlogs, personnel shortages and the need for digitalization in North Rhine-Westphalia’s justice system.