Image: Symbolic photo: Volker Weihbold
Lena (14) and Nadja (17) (names changed by editor) knew each other through social media. They wrote to each other on Instagram and became friends in this way, as prosecutor Philip Christl described. The 17-year-old had a history of mental health issues and had previously attempted suicide and been in a psychiatric ward prior to the incident. The 14-year-old knew that, because Nadja had written to her that she was “out” of the hospital again.
Then the two teenagers got into a fight. “There were mutual insults, both are to blame,” said the prosecutor. The 17-year-old was also massively provocative. “But that’s not why we’re sitting here today.”
“Jump off the bridge”
“You can be ashamed. Jump off the bridge. The shovel is on me!” Lena wrote. Nadja actually considered going to the bridge and jumping. Instead, she downed pills with an entire box of alcopops (“knockers”). Luckily, the girl was saved and taken to the hospital.
The 14-year-old was charged with attempted “participation in suicide”. For adults, there is a risk of up to five years, for young people it is two and a half years.
At first the girl said she didn’t really know about Nadja’s mental problems and that everything was “still meant that way”. In any case, she is sorry and would like to apologize. “She takes responsibility for her actions,” the prosecutor said. Therefore, nothing stands in the way of a diversion. “Juvenile criminal law should not impose draconian penalties, but should show limits.”
The court decided to temporarily suspend the proceedings. If the 14-year-old demonstrably provides 90 hours of community service within six months, then the criminal proceedings will be finally dropped. The institution is determined by the Probation Assistance Association of New Start.
Source: Nachrichten
