Opening trial in Bonn Walid S. denies involvement in attack on Niklas
Bonn · With much interest from the public, the trial against Walid S. and Roman W. opened in Bonn district court. The main defendant Walid S. denies having been involved in the attack that led to the death of Niklas Pöhler.
With the trial against Walid S. and Roman W. opening on Friday morning in a Bonn courtroom, it was evident that media interest was huge. The trial got underway just eight months after the violent death of 17-year-old Niklas Pöhler.
The main suspect, Walid S. is accused of bodily harm leading to death and involvement in a physical altercation. Roman W. is said to have punched a companion of Niklas Pöhler with his fist against the head, and is also accused of trying to kick Niklas but being held back. Additionally, he is accused of severely beating a witness.
Neither defendant wanted to comment on the allegations, only their lawyers took the floor. According to defense lawyer Martin Kretschmer who represents Walid S., his client denies having participated in the attack on Niklas Pöhler. He said he had been with friends at the Kurpark when the beating took place.
Further, the defendant said through his lawyer that he had only left the park once to get food and drink at a nearby gas station. Then he returned to the park. In the course of the evening, his clique had also consumed alcohol and marijuana. That is why he can not recall exact times. However, the witnesses he provided to authorities have not been able to confirm his alibi in previous interrogations by police and public prosecutors.
The jacket which was found with Walid S., containing traces of blood from Niklas Pöhler, does not belong to the defendant. His lawyer said that the jacket was handed over to Walid S. on that evening by a friend.
Roman W. also refrained from making any comments about the accusations against him on the first day of the trial. Through his lawyer, Peter Krieger, he said that he had not put pressure on any witness. Further, he said that at a meeting with the witness, the witness acted as if he were a friend, although he had previously implicated him in the crime to police. For that reason, he was so angry that he beat him, and he regrets that. Again through his lawyer, he said that at no time did he threaten or kick the witness. He did not want to make any more comments in the main trial.
Besides reporters and camera teams, there were about 30 spectators at the trial. Among them was the mother of Niklas, who participated in the trial as a joint plaintiff, represented by Dr. Dirk Simon.
The court has planned a total of 17 days for the trial. The next date is set for January 27.
(Orig. text: Joshua Bung, Laszlo Scheuch, Sebastian Fink)
