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Acquittal after 34 years: arson attack on asylum home remains unpunished!
An asylum seeker died in the arson attack in Saarlouis in 1991; The BGH has now confirmed the acquittal of the co-defendant.
Acquittal after 34 years: arson attack on asylum home remains unpunished!
In a sensational legal case, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has confirmed the acquittal of a man who was charged with aiding and abetting murder and attempted murder in connection with an arson attack on an asylum seekers' home in Saarlouis. How Lesseniel reported, it was decided to reject the Federal Prosecutor's Office's appeal. This means that the judgment of the Koblenz Higher Regional Court remains legally binding.
The arson attack, which occurred in September 1991, claimed the life of 27-year-old asylum seeker Samuel Yeboah from Ghana. This tragic incident meant that some residents of the home were able to save themselves, although some suffered serious injuries. The perpetrator himself was only convicted in 2023 and received a youth sentence of six years and ten months. This verdict became final in January 2024. However, the investigations in the 1990s were initially discontinued without any significant results until the proceedings were resumed in 2007 following a confession by the perpetrator.
Insufficient evidence of aiding and abetting
In the current case, the perpetrator's former friend was accused of aiding and abetting murder in 20 cases because he is said to have motivated the perpetrator with his statements on the evening of the attack. Although the Federal Prosecutor's Office demanded a prison sentence of six and a half years, the Koblenz Higher Regional Court determined that the available evidence was not sufficient for a conviction. In particular, no intent could be proven that the defendant had actively incited the perpetrator to carry out the arson attack, which ultimately led to his acquittal. The FAZ emphasizes that the very long legal dispute in this case has also come to an end.
And yet the memory of such incidents remains painfully relevant. Politically motivated crimes against refugee accommodation are increasing worryingly in Germany. According to a report by the taz The numbers for 2024 rose to 218 cases, an increase of 51 cases compared to the previous year. These included 28 acts of violence in which 14 people, including a child, were injured.
The combination of political rhetoric and the increase in such acts is leaving many people concerned. There have already been arson attacks in the past, for example in June 2024 in Bavaria, where a suspected right-wing extremist attacked an asylum home. The acts appear to be not only increasing, but also increasing in brutality, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures and increased social awareness.
In summary, it remains to be said that the acquittal in Saarland raises a complex issue that goes far beyond the courts. The competition of opinions about how to deal with asylum seekers and the increasing willingness of individual groups within society to use violence are challenges that need to be overcome.