Overview

• Three men, aged 19 and 20 at the time of the crime, were convicted of killing a 36-year-old man at a lake near Langhagen in July 2024.
• The Landgericht Rostock sentenced them to juvenile detention terms of eight years, six and a half years, and five years for manslaughter (Totschlag).
• The court ruled out murder charges, stating the crime did not meet the legal requirement of Heimtücke (treachery) due to the rapid sequence of events.
• Despite being adults, the defendants were sentenced under youth law due to their immaturity and lack of independence, capping the maximum penalty at ten years.
• The verdict is not yet final, as participants have one week to file an appeal against the decision.