A former caretaker who had served more than 13 years in jail for the alleged murder of an elderly lady discovered in a bathtub was cleared by a German court on Friday.
For allegedly murdering an 87-year-old resident of the building where he worked in 2008 by beating her on the head during an argument and then drowning her, Manfred Genditzki had been given a life sentence.
Throughout a protracted court dispute, Genditzki had continuously denied killing the victim.
The justices of the regional court in Munich decided that Genditzki had been wrongfully convicted and granted compensation of roughly 369,000 euros ($402,000) in a legal crisis that garnered widespread media attention.
A court spokeswoman stated, “It was not a murder, he is acquitted and thus innocent,” in reference to fresh evidence that suggests the death was unintentional.
According to local media, although several of Genditzki’s supporters sobbed aloud in the courtroom as the decision was read out, Genditzki remained still.
Having having successfully appealed his conviction before a federal tribunal, Genditzki, now 63, who had worked at a large residential complex in the southern town of Rottach-Egern, was found guilty once again by a Munich court in 2012.
The tragedy
In a third trial, his defense attorney Regina Rick was able to introduce fresh evidence suggesting the temperature of the water in the tub where the lady was discovered indicated a far earlier time of death than was previously thought.
Her death was most likely the consequence of an accident, according to a second scientific assessment that was submitted to the court using a computer simulation.
On the strength of such evidence, Rick was able to secure her client’s preliminary parole last August despite growing questions about his guilt and Genditzki’s previously spotless criminal record.
He was released from prison after more than 13 years, went back to his family, and started working as a driver at a cheese factory while waiting for a fresh trial from the local court.
The court spokesperson said that Friday’s verdict, which even the prosecution finally supported, “came on the basis of expert reports using the most modern methods which were not available at the time of the previous convictions.”
Genditzki is finally free after being wrongfully imprisoned for 4,915 days during which time he lost out on raising his children or seeing the birth of his grandkids, he said.
“This is a tragedy that can hardly be put into words,” he said.
Genditzki was sentenced by the court to pay 75 euros for each day he was imprisoned, which came to little over 368,000 euros. He may be able to make an extra damage claim for lost wages.
