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Clubhouse in Frankfurt: The public prosecutor speaks of “tumult”
Photo: Boris Roessler / dpa
The trial over a fatal brawl at a youth soccer tournament has begun before the Frankfurt regional court.
The 17-year-old defendant has to answer for bodily harm resulting in death.
A 15-year-old boy from Berlin died after being hit in the head.
The process is not public due to the age of those involved.
According to a court spokesman, the defendant remained silent on the first day of the trial.
The incident occurred on Pentecost 2023 on a football pitch in Frankfurt am Main (read detailed research here).
A team from Berlin and one from Metz, France, competed against each other at an international tournament.
After the final whistle, a fight broke out between the German and French players; the public prosecutor's office speaks of "tumult."
Hit in the neck
According to the public prosecutor's office, the defendant allegedly hit a player on the opposing team with his fists.
The defendant was then initially pulled away by a teammate.
However, he went back to the gathering of people.
He hit the teenager from Berlin in the cheek or neck.
The 15-year-old collapsed and was resuscitated.
Severe brain injuries were diagnosed in hospital.
Three days after the incident, the boy was diagnosed as brain dead.
The alleged perpetrator has been in custody in Germany since May 2023.
He is represented by an attorney and a public defender who did not comment publicly before the trial began.
The parents of the deceased appear as co-plaintiffs in the process.
They were not there on Thursday and, according to their lawyer, will not come to further appointments.
"They wouldn't make it emotionally," said Berlin lawyer René Lau, who represents the parents in court.
Above all, the parents are hoping for more information from the co-plaintiff, according to the lawyer.
"They want to know what exactly happened on site."
jpz/dpa