Procedures undergo changes. - Fatal car crash during test drive results in suspended sentence.
In a shocking incident, a 21-year-old man received a suspended sentence for causing a fatal accident during a test drive. The incident occurred in Hürth near Cologne when he was showing off his dangerously fast driving skills to a potential buyer. However, his excessive speed proved to be disastrous as the traffic light pole he hit led to the death of the 44-year-old buyer and severe injury to the buyer's 13-year-old nephew.
The Cologne district court revealed the details of this tragic ordeal, as the driver sped through a 30 km/h zone with this from-the-scrapheap car at a whopping 78 kilometers per hour. His brake-induced skid sent the car plunging into a traffic light pole. The court's ruling states that the 21-year-old was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary bodily harm, driving without a license, and a hit-and-run under juvenile criminal law.
The judge handed down a probation sentence for 20 months as well as a condition - the young man, who possesses some level of delay in emotional maturity - must undergo 30 hours of social work per month for a year.
The presiding judge grieved, "Your actions led to someone's death. You are morally and legally accountable for that." The shocked defendant, who was similarly injured, abandoned his smashed vehicle and sought refuge in another car whose driver remains unidentified. Eventually, the authorities apprehended him in a Düren hospital.
The judicial verdict described the car as a possible safety hazard due to its defective anti-lock braking system. Not only did the accused know about the car's unroadworthy status, but he had also admitted during trial that he purchased it for only 350 euros, with intentions of selling it for a hefty 2,700 euros. The sales advertisement even described the vehicle as being in 'top condition' and having no technical defects.
Read also:
- Loan players Sancho and Maatsen of BVB face an uncertain fate.
- Riedle draws a comparison between BVB and the 1997 championship squad.
- Kidnapping and Rape: Commencement of the Court Proceedings
- Kane scores 43 goals and eyes Wembley: "Just two games remaining"
Source: www.stern.de
