Homicide Defense lawyer of "baby shaker" demands acquittal in court
At the Zurich High Court on Thursday, the public prosecutor demanded an increase in the first-instance sentence against the man who allegedly shook his girlfriend's child to death. The defense lawyer pleaded for acquittal of all charges of violence.
20.03.2025, 11:04
20.03.2025, 16:14
SDA
The defendant should only be found guilty of the drug offenses, said the defence lawyer. A conditional fine and a fine were appropriate for this. In his plea, he tried to cast doubt on his client's culpability and focused on the mother of the killed toddler as a possible perpetrator.
In September 2023, the Winterthur District Court found the 29-year-old man guilty of intentional homicide and other offenses such as assault. It imposed a sentence of 12 years and three months as well as a conditional fine and a fine. The German was also ordered to leave the country for 11 years.
The public prosecutor demanded a far-reaching confirmation of the first-instance verdict, but a prison sentence of 14 years and a fine as well as a 13-year ban from the country. The crime should be classified as close to murder.
Injured again and again
Since the beginning of May 2021, the 20-month-old son of his new girlfriend had repeatedly suffered injuries, which the man photographed each time. On one occasion, the little boy suffered a fractured vertebra and was no longer able to walk. At the beginning of June 2021, the little boy was shaken to such an extent that he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. A few days later, on June 12, he died in hospital.
After his death, forensic specialists analyzed the injuries on the basis of the post-mortem examination and the images: It was clear to them that the injuries were the result of abuse.
According to the defense, there is no evidence that the accused was the perpetrator. The public prosecutor's office had unilaterally pinned the blame on him at an early stage. But it could also have been the woman, or even a third party perpetrator.
Woman in custody for months
The woman was held in custody for months following the death of her 20-month-old son in June 2021. However, the investigation yielded no evidence that she was the perpetrator and the proceedings against her have been suspended for the time being.
It is undisputed that the accused repeatedly looked after the child alone. He did this reluctantly, said the public prosecutor. Especially on June 3: on that evening, the woman celebrated her birthday - with friends, without the accused. It was then that the fatal shaking occurred.
