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Weatherman Kachelmann released from jail

Published: 29 Jul 10 14:51 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100729-28829.html

Four months after he was arrested for allegedly raping his girlfriend, weatherman Jörg Kachelmann was released from custody on Thursday.

A court in Karlsruhe ruled that there were now no immediate grounds for holding Kachelmann, 52, and ordered that the Swiss-born former television weatherman be released.

The ruling does not, however, mean that Kachelmann is off the hook: he still faces trial in September for allegedly threatening his long-term girlfriend with a knife and raping her.

Kachelmann was arrested at Frankfurt airport and has been imprisoned on remand since March 20 at a prison in Mannheim.

The court decided the evidence against him was not sufficient to continue holding him in custody. The complainant, Kachelmann’s girlfriend, was the sole prosecution witness and the case was therefore “her word against his,” the court said.

It could not be ruled out that the complainant had made false accusations, nor that she herself caused the injuries she claimed to have suffered during the rape, the court said.

Kachelmann’s lawyer, Reinhard Birkenstock, said: “Thank God there are still judges.”
The Karlsruhe court had “limited a justice scandal,” he said. He also thanked experts whose analyses of the evidence “brought the truth to light.”

Birkenstock said he was now preparing for the main trial, which begins on September 6 in Mannheim. Kachelmann is accused of threatening his long-term girlfriend with a knife and raping her. He denies the charges.

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

17:08 July 29, 2010 by greattoucan
This Kachelmann could have suffered a grave injustice. People tend to pre-judge such stories. But we have trials and evidence rules to bring out the truth. That is why people MUST suspend judgment until a fair trial is had and the truth is known. So just now we will have to wait and see what the truth is.
18:07 July 29, 2010 by Wabit
Everyone hopes that the victim will receive a fair hearing in the court, as far too many rape victims are simply brushed aside and case dismissed out of hand. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.

It is clear from past court cases that many accused are aquited and the case dismissed. This would suggest that most victims are liars! Which in turn makes a mockery of the justice system............
20:27 July 29, 2010 by Kayak
Men do rape woman and women do lie about men raping them. I'll keep these facts in mind and await the decision of the court.
00:25 July 31, 2010 by Prufrock2010
It is clear from past court cases that many accused are aquited [sic] and the case dismissed. This would suggest that most victims are liars! Which in turn makes a mockery of the justice system............ "

Can you cite to any authority to support those statements? I think not. The justice system relies on admissible evidence to convict or acquit, and the burden of proof to obtain a criminal conviction is high. I'm with Kayak on this one. Let's see what evidence is presented at trial and await the decision of the court.
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