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“We cannot exceed the legal limits that are set for us just because the population thinks they have the right to know all the backgrounds,” said senior public prosecutor Patrick Baron von Grotthuss from the Siegen public prosecutor’s office on Friday.
Protection of privacy of minors
The background is the protection of the privacy of minors. “Of course we will provide full information,” he emphasized. If the two girls who confessed are confirmed as perpetrators, “then we will not make any statements about the course of the crime or motives”. “If we can and are allowed to provide information, we will certainly do so,” said von Grotthuss. In such a special case – victims and suspects are children – one also has to accept that there is certain information that is not for the public.
File should actually be closed
Two girls aged 12 and 13 had confessed to stabbing Luise to death on March 11 in a wooded area on the border of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. You can’t investigate minors, “so that the file should actually be closed,” said von Grotthuss. However, the investigators should not be accused of overlooking possible other criminal facts in the course of the investigation. However, there is currently no evidence that anyone other than the two girls were involved.
speculation and hate postings
The police and prosecutors went on the offensive on Friday with a statement against false reports in the matter. “Obviously there is speculation, especially on social media, that does not match the current status of the investigation,” it said. The investigators asked not to take part “and not to fuel the discussions about the background to the incident, also to protect the relatives”. In addition, the social media channels of the two suspects were closed by order of the public prosecutor. In social networks, there had been numerous speculations on the profiles of partly anonymous users, as well as threats and hatred against the suspects. According to the police, it is constantly being checked whether anything criminally relevant is being posted.
“There are Limits”
But isn’t it precisely because of the information vacuum that the rumors are springing up? “Everyone thinks they have the right to know everything. But you have to say: there are limits, for example the protection of privacy,” said senior public prosecutor von Grotthuss. The fact that the identities of the two girls became known also makes it more difficult for investigators to give details. “How do you want to publish a motif without drawing conclusions about people?” said von Grotthuss. The girls are housed in “protected rooms” in the care of the youth welfare office.
Psychologists urge prudence
The Professional Association of German Psychologists warned on Friday against speculation and hasty attempts at explanations. It is now important, “as the investigating authorities are doing, to act with prudence.” The primary focus should be empathy and consideration for the victim’s family and protection of the girls involved and their families. “Underage suspects also have a right to child and youth protection,” it said.
Source: Nachrichten
