German man acquitted of ‘bathtub murder’ after 13 years in prison

BERLIN: A German court on Friday acquitted a former janitor who spent more than 13 years in prison for the murder of an elderly woman found in a bathtub.

Manfred Genditzki was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of drowning an 87-year-old resident of the building he worked in in 2008 after hitting him in the head during an argument.

During his lengthy legal battle, Genditzki consistently denied killing women.

In a judicial scandal that made national headlines, a Munich District Court judge found Genditzky wrongfully convicted and ordered him to pay nearly €369,000 (approximately US$402,000). .

A court spokesperson said, citing new evidence suggesting the death was an accident, “It was not a murder. He is acquitted and innocent.”

Genditzky sat expressionless as many of his supporters publicly wept in court as the verdict was read, according to local media.

Genditzky, now 63, works in a large residential complex in the southern town of Rottach-Egern and had already successfully contested a conviction in federal court, but was convicted again in 2012 by a court in Munich. rice field.

“tragedy”

In a third trial based on forensic advances, defense attorney Regina Rick presents new evidence that the water temperature in the bathtub where the woman was found indicated a time of death significantly different than originally estimated. We were able to.

A second scientific report filed in court used computer simulations to prove that her death was likely the result of an accident.

Rick won his client’s parole on that evidence last August, given growing doubts about his guilt and Genditzky’s previous innocent criminal record.

After more than 13 years in custody, he returned to his family and began working as a driver in a cheese factory while the district court granted a retrial.

Friday’s acquittal, which prosecutors also ultimately insisted on, “was based on expert reports using the latest techniques that were not available at the time of the previous conviction,” a court spokeswoman said.

Genditzky said he is now acquitted after spending 4,915 days wrongfully imprisoned for not being able to raise his children or attend the birth of his grandchildren.

“This is a tragedy beyond words,” he added.

The court ordered Genditzki to pay €75, or just over €368,000, for each day spent in prison. You may also be able to claim additional damages for lost revenue.