Six years ago, two Syrians allegedly raped a then 14-year-old refugee aid worker in a shelter in Lüchow-Dannenberg.
In the first instance, the duo was given a suspended sentence; in the appeal before the Regional Court of Lüneburg, the surprising turnaround: Acquittal for Schadi A. (25) and Mohamad T. (25)!
Reason: According to the court, the alleged victim Annika R. (20, name altered) had contradicted herself in her testimony in camera. The judges also think that a rape did not take place!
The defendants were happy (they kept quiet about the accusation), but the counterparty did not understand. Pascal Ackermann, lawyer for the joint plaintiff: “A clear miscarriage of justice! The assumption that her testimony was not credible is a scandal. The acquittals are a slap in the face of a brave young woman.” Annika’s mother: “My daughter broke down after the decision. It’s a nightmare that she has now been labelled a liar.”
The victim only went to the police one year after the alleged assault. According to her, the duo had threatened to harm her family if she reported it.