close
close

topicnews · September 30, 2024

Rhineland-Palatinate: After knife attack in Wittlich: US military trial started

Rhineland-Palatinate: After knife attack in Wittlich: US military trial started

As of: September 30, 2024 10:42 a.m

A US soldier from Spangdahlem Air Base will have to answer to a military court in Spangdahlem from Monday for a fatal stabbing at the Säbrennerkirmes 2023.

The violent act in question took place more than a year ago at the Säbrennerkirmes in Wittlich – a folk festival that is attended by around 100,000 people every year. A US soldier at the US Air Base Spangdahlem is said to have stabbed a 28-year-old man on the night of August 19, 2023.

Fatal knife stabs: Exact circumstances unclear

It is unclear exactly how the fatal stabbings occurred. The Säbrennerkirmes was already closed late after the first day of the festival. There was an argument and then a scuffle, police said. According to the police report, two US soldiers were involved. They were arrested shortly after the fatal knife attack and handed over to the US authorities in Spangdahlem.

One of the two has now been punished out of court because of his involvement in the dispute, the press spokeswoman for the US air base said in response to a request from SWR. However, details about the nature of the punishment were not given.

Suspect stands before a US military court

The US soldier who is said to have stabbed the victim with the knife is now in court. The murder weapon was later found in the Lieser. Due to the regulation of the NATO Forces Statute, the trial against the man will not take place before a German civil court, but before an American military court at the Spangdahlem air base.

I have no doubt that things are fair here.
Joachim Rodenkirch, Mayor of Wittlich

Mayor Joachim Rodenkirch observed the process on site for the city of Wittlich. He expected a fair trial, he told SWR: “I have no doubt that things will be fair here.” Especially with regard to the victim’s family, he hopes for a fair verdict – even if it doesn’t bring back life.

A special courtroom was set up at the air base for this trial because there is no permanent US court there.

A courtroom has been set up for the military trial at the US Spangdahlem Airbase.

Courtroom is reminiscent of a US television series

The courtroom is somewhat reminiscent of American television series such as “Law and Order”: old wood and flags everywhere. And in the end, a jury could decide whether the defendant is guilty or not. It consists of eight military members, some of whom had to be flown in from the United States especially for the trial.

Why is the case being heard in a US military court?

Shortly after the fatal stabbings in Wittlich, the case was handed over to US investigators because the suspects were military personnel from Spangdahlem. This corresponds to that NATO Statute of Forces. The statute was agreed between the NATO member states on 1951. This applies to the stay of NATO armed forces and their relatives on the territory of other NATO states. Accordingly, the host state has the prerogative to bring proceedings against foreign military personnel who have committed a criminal offense. According to a special German regulation, the Federal Republic of Germany generally waives this, so that this procedure is regularly passed on to the US authorities for further prosecution. Exceptions are cases in which foreign soldiers who commit criminal offenses face the death penalty in their home country. According to lawyers, this is not the case in the case of the knife attack at the Säbrenner fair. That is why the accused US soldier will stand before the military court at Spangdahlem Air Base.

The defendant, who has the third-highest rank in the US Air Force, is accused of, among other things, “murder with intent to kill or grievous bodily harm.” According to a spokeswoman for the air base, the English term “murder” is not the same as the German criminal offense “murder”, but can encompass various types of killing.

According to the US Air Base translation, the man is charged with killing (a person) with intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm. He is also charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of justice.

Harsher punishment under US law?

If convicted, the accused US soldiers faced a dishonorable discharge from the army and a long prison sentence.

A lawyer familiar with American law told SWR that the defendant may be punished more harshly under US law and with a longer period in prison than would have been the case under German law.

At the beginning of the military trial at the US Air Base Spangdahlem, the accused US soldier can choose whether a jury of eight jurors or a single judge should decide the verdict. In the case of a jury, the eight jurors would sit in these seats during the trial.

Formalities first negotiation days

According to information from Spangdahlem Air Base, formalities will be clarified on the first days of negotiations. This allows the defendant to decide whether the verdict should be pronounced by a jury of eight jurors or by one judge alone.

The military trial at Spangdahlem Air Base is only public to people who have access to the base. The trial is scheduled to last until October 11th. According to a spokeswoman for the US air base, negotiations are ongoing, including on German Unity Day on October 3rd.

Broadcast on Monday, September 30th, 2024 6:00 a.m., SWR4 BW in the morning, SWR4

More about the fatal stabbings on the Säubrenner fair

You may also like...