Ex-national player in court
A court in Munich has dealt with violence allegations against Jérôme Boateng four times already. Now there is a new verdict.
Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa
Initially, it was 1.8 million euros, then 1.2 million – now it is just a warning: In the new trial against former national soccer player Jérôme Boateng, the Munich I Regional Court has pronounced a significantly milder verdict. Although it found the 2014 World Champion guilty of intentional bodily injury, he was only warned. A fine of 40 daily rates of 5,000 euros each was imposed on a conditional basis.
Similar to a probationary sentence, Boateng only has to pay this 200,000 euros if he violates his conditions. These stipulate that he must donate 50,000 euros to each of two charitable organizations working for children. Because: “In my opinion, the real victims in this process are the children,” says presiding judge Susanne Hemmerich. “The poor children.” The probation period was set at one year. If Boateng fulfills his conditions, the fine will be waived.
“I am infinitely relieved that this years-long nightmare is now ending,” says Boateng according to his spokesman. “This is especially important for my children. Now I want to focus on family and football.”
The court concluded that “nothing remains of the accusation of a notorious woman beater,” as judge Hemmerich phrased it. He misbehaved once during a vacation six years ago. This incident is also to be viewed in the context of a “toxic relationship” with Boateng’s ex-girlfriend and mother of their now 13-year-old twin daughters – and against the backdrop of disputes in family court and the ex-partner’s financial demands.
The allegations from the indictment, claiming that Boateng bit his then-partner on the head during a vacation in the Caribbean in 2018 and threw a lantern and a cooler at her, were not confirmed by the court. “We do not have the terrible woman beater here,” says Hemmerich. “We have a person who has once lost control in a relationship.” Boateng admitted to having shoved his ex-girlfriend.
Court spokesperson Laurent Lafleur explained after the verdict: “The chamber considered that there had been mutual bodily injuries and that the victim did not solely hit the accused, but that on the day of the incident, according to the chamber’s findings, there were also physical assaults by the victim against the accused.”
Boateng’s lawyer Leonard Walischewski speaks of a “very good, fair verdict.” His 35-year-old client is now relieved. “He is pleased that he can now settle down.” Boateng wants to “return to his normal life.”
Boateng’s ex-girlfriend’s lawyer, Carolin Lütcke, also expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. “We aimed for a conviction, so we are satisfied.” There were significantly higher penalties in play: The public prosecutor’s office had demanded a fine of 1.12 million euros.
The proceedings against the long-time defender of FC Bayern Munich, who just transferred from the Italian club US Salernitana to Linzer ASK in Austria, have been dragging on for a long time. The Munich District Court had already imposed a fine on Boateng in 2021: 60 daily rates of 30,000 euros each, totaling 1.8 million euros.
The Munich I Regional Court then convicted Boateng in October 2022 in the second instance for bodily injury and insult to a fine of 120 daily rates of 10,000 euros – a total of 1.2 million euros. But the Bavarian Supreme Court overturned the verdict due to continuous legal errors – hence the case was reopened at the Munich I Regional Court.
“With that, the matter is resolved. Fortunately – after six years,” says judge Hemmerich after the verdict. Whether that is indeed the case will only be clarified in a week. Because the verdict is not yet final. The public prosecutor’s office, the joint plaintiff, and the defense can file an appeal again. Initially, none of them wanted to rule that out.