Murderer found on cruise 13 years after escape
Published: 4 Sep 12 08:27 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120904-44751.html
A convicted murderer who had been on the run for 13 years was arrested on a luxury cruise ship in northern Germany – after he assumed he was untouchable because the boat was flying under a Panamanian flag.
- Steinbrück cries on stage at wife's sympathy (17 Jun 13)
- German MPs aim for positive doggie vibes (14 Jun 13)
- Canny footballer shoots, scores, is banned (14 Jun 13)
German authorities checking the manifest of the MCS Poseia cruise ship coming from Norway to Kiel, found his name on the list, and moved in on Saturday to arrest him.
The 65-year-old had deliberately not left the ship in Kiel, thinking that because it had a foreign flag, he was on foreign territory.
He received a quick international law lesson when the German police took him away, explaining that they did in fact have jurisdiction.
The man, an Austrian, was convicted 13 years ago in Essen of murder, robbery and breaking gun laws, and sentenced to life in prison. How he escaped was not revealed on Monday – but authorities took him to Kiel jail.
DPA/The Local/hc
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Attacking Obama 'shows European weakness'
German outrage at the US President has peaked as Barack Obama is due in Berlin. But accusing him of Stasi methods over the surveillance scandal borders on defamation, argues Malte Lehming in political magazine Cicero. READ () »
Storms to replace heat wave by Thursday
Germany might be in the throws of a flash heat wave, but don't ditch jumpers and socks just yet - storms, hail and heavy rain are on their way, national weather service the DWD said on Tuesday. READ () »
Probe after abuse claims at private kids' homes
German authorities are investigating allegations of serious and systematic abuse at privately run homes for troubled children. Politicians are calling for the children to be removed but the firm denies any wrongdoing. READ () »
Germans lose interest in voting as election looms
Germans are losing their appetite for elections more dramatically than any other western democracy bar Portugal, as disillusionment with politicians the main cause, a study released on Tuesday suggested. READ () »
Deutsche Bahn fires staff in corruption clean-up
Deutsche Bahn has fired more than 30 managers who were involved in bribery - and is withdrawing from a slew of countries where corruption is rife. READ () »
Pesticides kill more river life than was thought
Pesticides may kill off water insects and other small aquatic life by as much as 42 percent, according to an analysis of German, French and Australian rivers and streams, published on Monday. READ () »
Merkel: I'll tackle Obama on surveillance
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will tackle US President Barack Obama on the scale of American online surveillance, and call for "transparency" on its scope as she hosts him in Berlin this week. READ () »
Mine of Rammelsberg and Goslar town
As the summer holidays approach, The Local is touring Germany's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today we visit the historic mine of Rammelsberg and town of Goslar. READ () »
- 18/06 Storms to replace heat wave by Thursday »
- 18/06 Deutsche Bahn fires staff in corruption clean-up »
- 18/06 Mine of Rammelsberg and Goslar town »
- 17/06 Assad: Europe will 'pay price' if it arms rebels »
- 17/06 Engineers sink barges to plug bust dyke »
- 17/06 Merkel: Turkish response to Gezi 'much too harsh' »
- 17/06 Merkel remembers East German uprising »
- 16/06 Greens' Roth sees Turkish violence live »
- 16/06 Friedrich calls for tougher travel controls »
- 16/06 Europe's largest gay festival held in Berlin »
- 18/06 Why France needs a total ban on smacking kids »
- 18/06 Concerns mount as Lourdes flood waters rise »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
- 18/06 American tourist dies in Arctic cruise mishap »
- 18/06 Norwegian apologizes for long-haul flight service »
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
- 18/06 Basel striker bound for German transfer: reports »
- 18/06 Students trash Zurich high school in 'prank' »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats
818 jobs available
559 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today
- EH&S Specialist Europe (m/f)
- Aerodynamic / CFD Engineer for Turbocharger Turbines (m/f)
- HR Business Partner (m/f) - HR Global Services
- Global Head of Sales
- Inside Sales Account Manager
- Sales Manager
- Intern (f/m) - Linde Engineering Communications
- Payroll Professional (M/F)
- Executive Assistant (m/f)
- Project Quality Manager (m/f)
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- More Space, More Art – The “New” Lenbachhaus in Munich
Following a long period of restoration work that included an extension, the year 2013 has seen the reopening of the Lenbachhaus in Munich. - By Way of a Detour – Germany at the Biennale in Venice
For decades now it has been considered to be in the best possible taste at the Biennale to call the competition among the nations into question. - “The Monetary Union is Driving the Countries of Europe Apart” – Four Questions for Wolfgang Streeck
The euro is in crisis, a crisis that some say threatens to break up the European Union itself.... - Antigone as a Comic – Detlev Baur on the first theatre magazine for young people
Since 2007 the the youth magazine Junge Bühne has appeared annually. - “Racism is a violation of human rights” – An Interview with Selmin Çalışkan
Police violence, discrimination, the plight of refugees – human rights violations also happen in Germany, says Amnesty International.
- Germany's Guerilla Knitters
A tree in a sweater? A statue wearing mittens? A sign post with a scarf? Guerilla knitters are brightening urban spaces in Germany with a new kind of graffiti. - The Best of Germany: Städelschule
At the heart of Frankfurt’s art scene is a school that has attracted many international art students to Germany. The Städelschule has a reputation for a high level of instruction and for nurturing students working at the forefront of conceptual and experimental contemporary art. - US President Obama in Germany
The American President Barack Obama visits Berlin. - Hollywood Stars Filming in Germany
Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Oscar award-winner Geoffrey Rush are making films in and around Potsdam. - Design Festival in Berlin
Creative young designers from around the world showcase their work at the DMY International Design Festival at Berlin’s former Tempelhof airport.
- Keeping an eye on Europe’s values
Jan-Werner Müller, Professor in Princeton, on Hungary as an EU member state. - E-Government
The internet makes it possible: No more waiting in line at government offices, state services around the clock! - GovApps – the town hall on the mobile Internet
The Federal Government’s new public service GovApps provides a guide for public apps. - Paths to the future
In difficult times the European Union is seeking paths out of the crisis.
- Business Consultant m/f − Order−to−Cash
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- Entwicklungsingenieur "Primär-/Sekundärstruktur CATIA V5" (m/w)
- Exterior Designer (m/f)
- Intern (f/m) Training Development & Implementation
- Internship Support Project Manager
- Internship User Interface Design
- Manager (m/f) for IT Project Portfolio
- Part-Time Administrative Assistant (m/f)
- 01:33 New in Munich (or new to this forum)
- 00:25 Salary expectations for software tester
- 00:24 Safe days during menstrual cycle
- 00:21 Police Report (Anzeige) filed against me
- 00:17 Tell us your "Airplane roulette" stories
- 00:10 Used Car (Gebrauchtwagen) problems
- 00:07 Hayfever
- 00:07 Representing myself in court
- 00:02 Cross Fit Gyms in Munich
- 23:57 Oktoberfest table reservations 2013
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
I took a quick look at Wiki..."Flag of convenience"...and it seems to say this:
Owners can register a ship under a "flag of convenience" which means the owner doesn't have to register in the country where he/it operates. It does a couple things. First, it is usually done to save money, since ships are often registered where labor and safety regulations are more lax. Also, the ship operates under the maritime laws of that country. However, it does not make the ship sovereign territory such as would be the case with an official embassy or consulate (see Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London).
It also has an additional "benefit" in that the real owner of the ship can remain anon in most cases, simply forming a dummy corporation in the State of the flag chosen.
Since it's in a German port it would be subject to the local civil laws in everything except issues specifically relating to maritime law, i.e. piracy. Even then it might be subject to local statutes if the crime happened while the ship was in port. In this case, it looks like German police would have had an outstanding warrant for this guy, and could easily board the ship while it was in port.
Maybe he should have checked Wiki before deciding to take a cruise. Since he couldn't get off in Germany (and apparently knew that) I'm not sure why he took the cruise anyway. The warrant would likely have been valid anywhere in the EU if it was filed properly.
wa
Given that the vessel did dock in Germany, it would be bound by German Law while in Port. German Law enforcement in all of the various colors (Coast Guard, Immigration, Zoll, Public Health, Federal, State, or Local police have the write to board and inspect the vessel, crew, passengers, and cargo, since the vessel is no longer meeting the definition of "Innocent Passage".
Innocent Passage can be revoked if the vessel is observed by local authorities to have committed a crime (pollution, illegal fishing, damaging navigational aids, fail to render aid to a distressed vessel, collision with another vessel, damaging under water cables or pipelines ...).
Our dear friend was screwed the moment he stepped on board the vessel, it was just a matter of time until the vessel dock, or stopped in port. I hope that he had an enjoyable trip while it lasted.
Thank you for the research and info.
In any case, the cruise line would not have wanted to offend the German authorities. If they had been shown documentary evidence that the passenger was an escaped criminal, they would surely have put him ashore...