• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Hells Angel jailed over police shooting

Published: 28 Feb 11 11:47 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110228-33399.html

A member of the Hells Angels biker gang was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Koblenz court Monday for killing a police officer.

The district court in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate declared the 44-year-old from Anhausen guilty of manslaughter, coercion, and attempted extortion.

On March 17, 2010 the man fired two shots through the closed door of his home, hitting a 42-year-old police officer, who was killed.

The member of the special police force had been trying to open the door to conduct a search with another colleague as part of a larger investigation of the Westerwald region’s red light milieu.

The coercion and attempted extortion charges against the defendant came in connection with this investigation.

During the trial the defendant admitted to shooting through the door, but maintained he did not know a police officer was on the other side. Instead he believed he was being threatened by member of rival biker gang the Bandidos, he said.

This claim prompted state prosecutors to downgrade their original charge of murder to manslaughter, bringing the maximum sentence down to nine years from 12.

The defence plead for the biker to be pardoned because he acted in self-defence and was the result of a “chain of unhappy circumstances.”

DAPD/ka

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

12:04 February 28, 2011 by moistvelvet
Ah so because he thought he was shooting at a rival gang member it isn't murder? Definately manslaughter as he didn't intend to kill a policemen, only a bandido.
12:26 February 28, 2011 by LiberalGuy
I find it funny people still refer to these criminal organziations as 'motorcycle clubs'.
13:52 February 28, 2011 by auniquecorn
Thats what the big MC on the vest stands for. he proably has a 1% patch on the front.
15:02 February 28, 2011 by tallady
A maximum sentence of 12 years for murder. a cut and paste ...

"Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with "malice aforethought", and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). As the loss of a human being inflicts enormous grief upon the individuals close to the victim, as well as the fact that the commission of a murder is highly detrimental to the good order within society, most societies both present and in antiquity have considered it a most serious crime worthy of the harshest of punishment. In the US, a person convicted of murder is typically given a life sentence or the death penalty for such an act."

I assume an enlightened society such as Germany feels otherwise.
18:05 February 28, 2011 by derExDeutsche
9 years is a slap on the wrist, no doubt.

He'll be back in the saddle in No time. like a real 'Held'

Shoot a cop in the US, and he'd be looking at Death Row in a Death Penalty State. Never getting out of Jail, either way.
18:59 February 28, 2011 by Nemo2010
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life. He should be hanged by the neck until dead. Why are these criminal gangs tolerated anyway?
00:56 March 1, 2011 by fryintl
You now see why the poor schlub in the US, where is it, Texas(?), is thought to be over sentenced. All the guy here in the US did was just plan and help a lady kill her parents. This guy killed a Politzist and he got that long and horrible 9 year sentence. Ask the Polizei if he deserves a lighter sentence and let me know what they say. Also, why not do a poll telling us what the general populace thinks of this? Give them the real details and let them tell you what they think. Poll in Landstuhl, Reichenbach Steegen, hutschenhausen, Worms, Landau an der Mosel. See what the general populace say!!!
10:37 March 1, 2011 by Hellbent
If a criminal in the US only got 9 years in prison for killing a police officer, there would be a dozen police officer killings every day.
18:54 March 1, 2011 by michael4096
Gotta luv the posters here

same guys claiming that everybody should be allowed guns to defend themselves, their family and property now reckon that everybody with a gun already has the omniscience to know that the guy breaking into their house was really bold and beautiful
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Expanding drone fleet raises privacy concerns

Germany's armed forces and police currently operate 331 high-tech drones inside and outside the country, and the government intends to swell the fleet, according to a media report that has alarmed civil rights advocates. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Milder weather on the way for the weekend

Spring is coming ever closer in Germany, as mild temperatures and light rain are forecasted for the next few days. But nights will remain frosty in the south, the German Weather Service (DWD) reported. READ »

Photo: DPA

Obama praises Merkel’s euro crisis leadership

Despite plenty of transatlantic tensions over the eurozone debt crisis, US President Barack Obama phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel to congratulate her on concluding a new Greek bailout deal. READ (10 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Frankfurt Airport workers halt strike for talks

Frankfurt Airport's tarmac traffic controllers have called off their five-day strike after the company that runs Germany's largest air hub offered to negotiate over their wage demands. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Defrocked, defrauded: man cons abusive bishop

A 29-year-old German man has been charged with conning Walter Mixa, a former Catholic bishop who resigned following child abuse allegations, out of nearly €5,000. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Germany told to stop sex offender castration

The Council of Europe's anti-torture committee on Wednesday urged Germany to abolish the surgical castration of sex offenders, warning that the operation could amount to "degrading treatment." READ (17 COMMENTS) »

Have Your Say
Photo: DPA

Can Gauck be president 'while living in sin?'

Germans generally agree that Joachim Gauck is a good choice for president. But can the ex-pastor be the nation's moral authority while staying married to one woman yet living with another set to become First Lady? Have your say. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Internet 'scammer' freed in surprise move

Megaupload.com boss Kim Dotcom was freed on bail in a surprise move Wednesday, after a New Zealand judge dismissed fears he would flee the country to escape US online piracy charges. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

More National
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The Local’s media roundup surveys opinion on Joachim Gauck’s ascension to the German presidency
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Can't understand Cologne's traditional drinking songs being sung by Karneval revellers? A German-American couple has published translations in English.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
President Christian Wulff's resignation may be quickly forgotten, but Chancellor Angela Merkel’s poor judgement will remain, writes The Local’s Marc Young.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The boozy zaniness of Karneval isn't just for Catholics from the Rhineland. Who needs naked Samba dancers in Rio when you have drunk Germans in clown suits in Cologne, right?
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 16 - 22
Photo: Dreamworks Studios, War Horse
LIFESTYLE »
Find the latest movies in English playing in Germany with The Local's cinema guide.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Should people without children pay more taxes to help shore up Germany's social security system? Have your say.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Sabine Devins tackles immunisations and baby pharmaceuticals in the latest instalment of Motherhood in the Fatherland.
Photo: Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 9 - 15
Photo: Vocalex
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Extend your German vocabulary with Vocalex
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

1248 jobs available
700 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog
Essentials

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.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!