It is an idiosyncratic atmosphere in the courtroom, which is well filled despite the corona crisis. A mammoth trial with first 13 and then another eleven trial days is coming to an end – and everyone already suspects what the verdict will be. On that friday the 13th., then only the presiding judge manfred schmidt has the floor, his verdict can be summarized in two short sentences: the three defendants, the former home manager of the senior citizens’ residence schloss gleusdorf, her care service manager and the home doctor at the time are acquitted and also all exonerated. The costs of the proceedings are borne by the state treasury.
Schmidt’s explanation, which lasted just under an hour, was well-structured and all the more detailed. "It is not the task of the court to uncover the possible misconduct in gleusdorf from 2011 to 2016", schmidt made clear. That is the task of the administrative authorities, which had also reacted with operating orders and prohibitions.
It was about five charges
Out of two file trucks full of investigative procedures, five charges had remained. And if the end result is an acquittal, "then that’s just the way it is". The grand jury was concerned only with the five accused cases; the charges were manslaughter by omission, abuse of a ward and grievous bodily harm. "In these five cases, we do not believe that it was as presented in the indictment." The court had evaluated and examined extensive nursing files, service plans and medical documents, and had heard all essential witnesses. "I became to say that we cleared up this case very fundamentally", explained schmidt. There had been no evidence of any missing files or allegedly manipulated documentation.