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Why Tuğçe had to die? The verdict of the court

Tu e died in November after a heavy blow on the head - now the court pronounces the verdict
Photo: Getty Images

Verdict in the Tuğçe trial against Sanel M.

Serious injury with fatal consequences was the charge, now the verdict is there: Sanel M. must go to jail. The punishment for putting down Tuğçe in November so badly that she did not survive the attack.

Serious injury with fatal consequences was the indictment, now the verdict is there: Sanel M. must be imprisoned for 3 years. This is the punishment for putting down Tuğçe in November so badly that she did not survive the attack. Even before the verdict, the mood in the court had been heated up.

On 28/11/2015, the devices were switched off, which should save their lives after the brain haemorrhage. That was a week before her 23rd birthday.

The first answer to the question was clear: Many celebrated Tuğçe as a heroine. It became a symbol of civil courage. Because the student had defended two girls against Sanel and his friends in the toilet of McDonald's in Offenbach. Later, Sanel struck the parking lot.

Why? Rarely has this question been so easy at first glance and so difficult to answer for any further look. What really happened during the night? Why did Tuğçe die? These questions the district court in Darmstadt tried to clarify properly during the process.

What has since been reasonably certain: Even before the incident on the toilet, the groups had Tuğçe and Sanel in the hair. The boys start the girls, they sit down. Then the toilet scene. In phase 3, the situation escalates in the parking lot in front of the fast food restaurant - and now it is not until the last to clarify what happened. Because there are pictures of surveillance cameras. But the witnesses speak again. "They were bad witnesses on both sides, " says defender Stephan Kuhn. "The boys were too bad, the girls too well prepared."

And again the question: Why did Tuğçe die? Of course, she had insulted Sanel as a "son of a bitch" and thus provoked him to frenzy. The court heard many explanations from both sides in the process of how such an insult should be judged. Legally, that may be relevant - it does not change the mourning for Tuğçe. Even so, the farther the story goes, the farther the court goes. "One would have wished for the Familile, that it would have given a higher purpose for their death", say the high prosecutor in his pleading.

Sanel B. seems to be clear about this tragedy. His last words in the process: "The blow was the worst mistake of my life." He apologized already at the trial prelude with their parents.

The prosecution had demanded a prison sentence of 3 years and 3 months. Juvenile justice, which sentences Sanel, provides for between 6 months and 10 years imprisonment for such cases. The defense lawyers wanted to save their clients from jail for "unprecedented prejudice". She pleaded for a probationary sentence of one year. Defender Kuhn: "He will have to worry about his life."

It's hard for everyone to understand why the word "son of a bitch" has such deadly consequences. It's just as hard to believe that this apology alleviates the pain for Tuğçe's family. The parents are written sick, the brothers have interrupted education and studies.

Why did Tuğçe only die? This question will never leave her family, even though the court was so keen on answers.

The "why?" Remains independent of the court verdict forever.

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