Man Wrongfully Convicted for Murder Acquitted in Retrial after 13 Years in Prison
BERLIN — In a shocking turn of events, a man who spent 13 years in prison in Germany for the death of an elderly woman has been acquitted in a retrial. The court determined that the supposed murder victim had actually died in an accident.
Manfred Genditzki, 63, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2010 by a Munich court. According to the initial verdict, Genditzki had allegedly hit an 87-year-old woman on the head in October 2008 after an argument at her apartment in the upscale Bavarian lakeside town of Rottach-Egern. He was then accused of drowning her in a bathtub.
From the beginning, Genditzki maintained his innocence, and despite unsuccessful appeals against the original verdict, he never gave up. Last August, his determination paid off as he managed to secure the reopening of the case, leading to his eventual release.
On Friday, presiding Judge Elisabeth Ehrl announced the verdict at the Munich state court, declaring Genditzki’s innocence. She said, “You have heard the words you spent nearly 14 years waiting for.” The judge also stated that Genditzki will be compensated for the time he wrongly spent in prison.
Apologizing on behalf of the court, Judge Ehrl mentioned the mishandling of the previous legal proceedings and the accumulation of mistakes that had adversely affected Genditzki. She commended his patience and perseverance throughout the challenging process.
The court found that the woman’s death was likely an accident. They determined that she had fallen into the bathtub while trying to wash laundry or take a foot bath, and was unable to free herself, leading to her unconsciousness and subsequent drowning.
Prosecutors had called for Genditzki’s acquittal earlier this week, and in his closing words during the trial, Genditzki simply stated, “I would like to say again that I am innocent. That’s all.”
While Genditzki was greeted with applause upon leaving the courtroom, he expressed no happiness over his acquittal. “I have no reason to rejoice,” he said. “Fourteen years are gone.”
According to German law, individuals wrongfully imprisoned are entitled to 75 euros in compensation for every day spent in custody. In Genditzki’s case, this would amount to 368,400 euros (about $400,000). He may also seek compensation for loss of earnings.
This case highlights the importance of a fair and thorough legal system, as well as the devastating consequences of a wrongful conviction. As Genditzki begins to rebuild his life outside prison walls, questions remain regarding how such a grave error in justice could have occurred in the first place.