By Anne Losensky
Young men think they need to clarify something. Because a woman is annoying. They meet at night to fight. Their cliques form a circle around one-on-one combat, man-to-man. Then one is dead… In the hearing on Tuesday, there was massive unrest.
The fact: January 16, 2022, Lichterfelde South, 1 a.m. High school graduate Kaan Ö. (18) lies dying after a prearranged fight on a ping-pong table in the shadow of the skyscrapers where he grew up.
The accusation: Annas El-B. (22) is said to have killed him without being a murderer. After mutual beatings, he is said to have stabbed the man lying on the ground “at least twice with a knife in the direction of the upper body, contrary to agreement”. A stitch goes between the ribs, straight to the heart.
Kaan Ö. died at this table tennis table, relatives and friends set up candles and pictures Photo: Timo Beurich
The process: The defendant faces up to ten years in prison. Nonetheless, he is free. Because in the investigation, a completely different young man (21) is said to have made a confession! He is said to have had the knife with him.
The witnesses: “I heard that the other person should take everything on himself,” says geriatric nurse Ibo (23). There was “pressure made”. But he is certain that the right person is sitting in front of him in the dock: “Maybe he wanted to play the bloke, although it really wasn’t his business. He immediately attacked Kaan. Only he fought with him, only he was on him. It can only have been him.”
Hairdresser Tim R. (20) adds: “Because only he was near Kaan. We are all certain: it can only have been him.”
Kaan O. was only 18 when he died Photo: Olaf Wagner
The formerly accused young man (21) comes with a lawyer and refuses to testify.
This leads to resentment in the crowded audience benches. Kaan’s mother sits on the joint plaintiff’s bench and cries: “But he should talk!” Kaan’s father murmurs in disbelief: “What now, and that’s it for him?” understood?”
Two dozen law enforcement officers try to keep more than a hundred supporters of the warring cliques away from each other in court.
Annas El-B. silent in court. His defense attorney: “He denies the charge.”
Judgment on June 22nd.