Trials Begin for Alleged Sexual Abuse Cases in Germany

A former pastor and a 56-year-old man face court proceedings for separate allegations of sexual abuse dating back several years.

The former pastor, Matthias R., is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during confirmation classes in 2009 and later raping her in a classroom.
The alleged victim, now 29, reported the crimes in 2020, leading to charges being filed two years later.
Matthias R. appeared in court using a walker and claimed memory loss, but a psychiatrist deemed him fit to stand trial.
In a separate case, a 56-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing two boys aged six to ten on multiple occasions between 2020 and 2022.
The trial for the 56-year-old involves 33 alleged incidents, with proceedings expected to exclude the public due to the victims' ages.