Acquittal after 684 days: couple from Goslar fights for justice!

Acquittal after 684 days: couple from Goslar fights for justice!

In the case of Ramona R. and Thorsten R. from Goslar, a judicial scandal has taken place that is casting its shadow on the German legal system. The two innocently spent an incredible 684 days in prison after being accused by their daughter Josephine of sexually abusing her. Her daughter even appeared as a co-plaintiff and had numerous scars on her skin. During the first trial, there were initial suspicions that the daughter had made false statements, but these were not sufficiently heard by the public, supported by psychologists, lawyers and judges. This reveals a worrying pattern that can also be observed in other miscarriages of justice in Germany, as described by Wikipedia.

The Braunschweig Regional Court initially pronounced a judgment against the couple, but the Federal Court of Justice ultimately overturned it. This step came at a time when Ramona and Thorsten were already in custody. Her acquittal was supported by a report by the “Eisberg Investigative Group” published in October 2023, which cited numerous exculpatory evidence. This evidence was essential as it formed the basis for overturning the verdict. Despite this exoneration, the two remained in custody for five months longer until the verdict was overturned due to legal errors. The couple are now fighting for the legal processing of the entire procedure, which is not only important for them, but also for the credibility of the legal system as a whole. According to a report by NDR, the Göttingen public prosecutor's office emphasizes that there was no criminal misconduct on the part of the then public prosecutor from Braunschweig, which further complicates the situation.

Consequences of false reporting

Another scandalous aspect of the case is the ongoing investigation against the daughter Josephine R. for false suspicion. This situation also has a second, tragic dimension, as one of Josephine's former partners, Miriam A., is also imprisoned and may be innocent. Her lawyer and the public prosecutor's office filed an application to reopen the proceedings, but this was deemed inadmissible by the Göttingen regional court. This means that Miriam remains in custody for the time being and is also confronted with the consequences of a possible miscarriage of justice.

The case of Ramona R. and Thorsten R. joins a long series of miscarriages of justice in Germany. Historically, a list of well-known cases shows that errors in jurisprudence are by no means rare. From the shocking cases of the past, such as the false convictions of Johann Evangelist Lettenbauer or Gustl Mollath, to more recent cases such as that of Manfred Genditzki, the examples are diverse. Every year in Germany there are an estimated 1 in 8,900 cases in which a reopening is necessary, and the pressure on the sources of error in the justice system often remains unabated.

The legal investigation into the case of Ramona and Thorsten R. is an important step towards restoring public trust in the judiciary. But the emotional and psychological scars that the two suffered as a result of the wrongful conviction remain even after their acquittal. “The burden remains,” as NDR aptly puts it. Until the truth comes to light, the question remains: What will become of the innocents trapped by the system?