Florian Apler, father of the dead Leon (6), was in custody for 522 days. In August 2024 he was released by a jury of eight members in Innsbruck. Now Apler has written a book, on Friday he came to the audience for the first time.
It is a case that from the start will cause a sensation and the headlines: on August 28, 2022, Florian Apler will be found unconscious at the hasty promenade of the Kitzbüheler Ache around 5 in the morning. Next to him is the buggy of his son – fallen and empty.
Moments later, the body of his son Leon (6) is restored downstream. This was followed by months of investigation, a custody of 322 days for the 40-year-old, the indictment and a three-day process, which eventually ended in the previous year with a unanimous legally binding acquittal of a jury.
Diary records in the detention cell
Apler carefully led the diary behind Rasters and he has already summarized all these records in a book. It is entitled: “The Leon Case – 522 days innocent behind bars”. On Friday morning the family man was looking for the first to present his work. He was supported by co-author Volker Schütz, an experienced lawyer in Germany. “To write down all the incredible day after day, an important mental anchor was for me during my long detention. I wanted everything that had happened between the insurmountable walls that were fenced with barbed wire, at one point the road to outside the way out, “Apler emphasized.
A total of three main reports
In addition to sorrow, he feels a “huge part of anger”. Writing a diary was “a first straw up”. He also did it for his daughter “so that she can read everything that happened at some point”. It was an important tool behind bars “not to continue”. The book is based on three main reports: “Our Schnuffi was an incredibly great, little boy, and the photo made in many places is not true, and we would like to do that with this book. The search for the perpetrator should definitely continue – we will find it. And we hope that such a thing does not happen to someone and that a learning process takes place here, “APLER emphasizes.
“We know exactly”
There were more than “100 errors and malfunctions”. “We know exactly,” says Leon’s Dad. And he mentions examples: “It’s about the death of a child, and it is so unprofessional from the first second. For example, long -term charges have been extended to the final plea. The suspicion of innocence was kicked several times. Not all fragments of the murder weapon were secured. Male persons followed us several times on the mentioned night, but the Criminal Police Office of Tyrol State was unable to guarantee these videos on time. There are also inconsistencies with regard to the DNA evaluations.
According to the Apper, the guided process was “short”, so only fractions could be worked up “. Means: not everything came to light. An example that had remained especially in his head:“ There was a camera that is 90 meters away from the The crime scene was set up.
Videos shown by Leon
During the trial, Apler and lawyers were not allowed to show photos and videos of Kleine Leon (6). “He had such a great development, but that simply could not be presented during the process,” says Apler. In the course of the press conference he recorded this – two extracts from Leon were shown.
What went through the head when the acquittal was announced? “Everything was completely unreal, I couldn’t pack it at all. The last minutes until the announcement was the worst. I was led to the hall, my wife stood in a corner in front of me and showed me, thumbs up, but completely cried. My lawyer told me it would be an acquittal. But it was still completely surreal, the pressure just fell away, “he says. “Freedom sometimes has a high price,” Apler also emphasized. He referred to the high financial resources he had to raise for the process. “It certainly goes in the hundreds of thousands of euros.”
“Family as a source of strength”
How did he feel in prison? ‘I did not notice the report. I had my family in force as a source. Only one situation linked to the prison: a judicial officer brought me a newspaper and said they wrote something about me. And what was published did not match the truth – but I could never explain what I would have done within two minutes. You already place that, “says Apler.
“The judiciary just failed here”
Co-author Volker Schütz also spoke. He has known Apler since December 2019 and there has been a close friendship since then. “When Florian was arrested, I didn’t understand because I knew his relationship with Leon. It was simple for me and I had the hope that the researchers will realize at some point that this could not all match the truth, “says Schütz.
He also emphasizes: “Where the work is done, chips fall. But: mistakes usually have to be corrected – that did not happen here. This is a scandal. Nobody wondered if the cause could be different. You have to deal with that now, something has to happen here. The judiciary simply failed here. “
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.
