After the terrible bloody crime against twelve-year-old Luise from Freudenberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, which two friends of the victim have confessed to, the motive for the crime could remain forever unknown to the public. “We cannot go beyond the legal limits imposed on us just because the population thinks they have a right to know all backgrounds,” senior prosecutor Patrick Baron von Grotthuss of the Siegen prosecutor’s office said Friday.
The background is the protection of the privacy of minors. “Of course we will provide full information,” he stressed. If the two known girls are confirmed as perpetrators, “we will not make any statements about the course of the crime or motives”. “If we can and are allowed to provide information, we certainly will,” von Grotthuss said. In such a special case – victims and suspects are children – one also has to accept that there is some information that is not intended for the public.
No criminal investigation
Two girls aged 12 and 13 confessed to stabbing Luise to death on March 11 in a wooded area on the border of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. One cannot investigate minors, “so that the file should actually be closed”, according to Von Grotthuss. However, the detectives should not be accused of overlooking possible other criminal offenses in the course of the investigation. However, there is currently no evidence that anyone other than the two girls was involved.
The social media channels of the two suspects have been closed
The police and the public prosecutor went on the offensive on Friday with a statement against false reports in this case. “It is clear that there is speculation, especially on social media, that is inconsistent with the current status of the investigation,” it said. The investigators asked not to participate “and not to stir up discussions about the background of the incident, also to protect the next of kin”.
In addition, on the order of the public prosecutor, the social media channels of the two suspects were closed. On social networks, there were numerous speculations about the profiles of partly anonymous users, as well as threats and hatred against the suspects. According to the police, it is constantly checked whether anything criminally relevant is posted.
Senior prosecutor: No claim to “know everything”
But isn’t it precisely because of the information vacuum that the rumors are spreading? “Everyone thinks he has the right to know everything. But you have to say: there are limits, for example the protection of privacy,” said senior prosecutor von Grotthuss. The fact that the identity of the two girls became known also makes it more difficult for detectives to provide details. “How do you want to publish a motive without drawing conclusions about individuals?”, he said. The girls are therefore housed in “protected rooms” under the care of the Youth Care Agency.
The Professional Association of German Psychologists warned Friday against speculation and hasty attempts at explanations. It is now important, “as the investigative authorities do, to act with caution.” Empathy and attention for the relatives of the victims and the protection of the girls involved and their families must now be central. “Child suspects have the right to the protection of children and young people,” it says.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
