Criminal Law, Mental State, Murder, Police and Prosecutors, Soering

10 Söring Myths Part 3: Söring’s Confessions Conflict with the Crime Scene Evidence

Welcome to Part 3 in my series of Ten Söring Myths. These are intended as a teaser for a very long article (over 15,000 words) which will shortly appear in German in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The article discusses a 454-page report authored by retired Scotland Yard detective Terry Wright, which exhaustively analyzes claims made… Continue reading 10 Söring Myths Part 3: Söring’s Confessions Conflict with the Crime Scene Evidence

BGH, Criminal Law, Mental State, Police and Prosecutors

How Many Innocent People Are in German Prisons?

The German press is obsessed with the American justice system. The coverage varies from wire-service blurbs about police shootings to in-depth researched pieces. Quality varies enormously, but is often low: German reporters tend to approach the topic with prejudices firmly in place, and screen their research to ensure those prejudices are confirmed. I've documented one… Continue reading How Many Innocent People Are in German Prisons?

BGH, Criminal Law, LG Berlin, LG Hamburg, Mental State, Murder

Drag-Race Deaths, Intent, and Murder in German Law

Two interesting and controversial judgments have been handed down by German courts recently in cases involving high speed chases and drag races in German cities. Illegal drag races have happened in Germany since there were cars, but the new phenomenon is driven by young males from urban areas, usually of immigrant background, who conduct either… Continue reading Drag-Race Deaths, Intent, and Murder in German Law