Mayor of Freudenberg: “Tons of weight”

Dhe mayor of Freudenberg called for solidarity in a service on Sunday after the violent death of twelve-year-old Luise. “Mourning and bewilderment are like a heavy burden on our city,” said Nicole Reschke at a regular service in the small town in Siegerland, which was all about mourning for the girl. “We are united in our pain with Luise’s relatives,” said the mayor.

“Is our cohesion in Freudenberg strong enough to endure all this?” Reschke asked. You have to stand together, also against “agitation and aggressive know-it-alls” from outside, appealed the local politician and warned: “Let’s not judge prematurely!”

Two girls, aged 12 and 13, had confessed to the act of violence. According to previously announced findings, they are said to have killed Luise with several knife wounds last Saturday in a remote forest on the border of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The girl was found dead during a search on Sunday. A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday.

In the case, the police and public prosecutor’s office are very reserved with information about the background, especially with information about the alleged perpetrators and refer to their privacy protection. Because of their young age, the girls are not yet criminally responsible and cannot be brought before a court.

Bushman against earlier criminal responsibility

Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) has, however, reacted cautiously to calls for a lowering of the age of criminal responsibility. “Any debate about adjustments to criminal law should be conducted with a cool head,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”.

Children under the age of 14 would not be prosecuted, the Minister of Justice said. “But our legal system already has the means to react to serious acts of violence by children under the age of 14,” he said.