Children drugged and abused: This is why trial against ex-coach does not start in public

Hattersheim/Frankfurt am Main - A former youth coach is alleged to have raped several boys, some of the cases now have to be retried. However, most of the trial will begin behind closed doors.

In the period between 2014 and 2021, the convicted 37-year-old raped and sexually abused several children and adolescents.
In the period between 2014 and 2021, the convicted 37-year-old raped and sexually abused several children and adolescents.  © Boris Roessler/dpa

In the trial against an ex-football coach for sexual abuse before the Frankfurt Regional Court, the public has been excluded for the reading of the specific charges and the defendant's statement.

Otherwise, the interests of the 37-year-old and the victims, who were minors at the time of the crime, could be violated, said the presiding judge. Circumstances from their private sphere would be described.

In the trial, the man must once again face charges of rape and assault of children and adolescents as well as the production of youth and child pornography.

At the beginning of the year, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) partially overturned an earlier verdict against him due to a procedural error, meaning that 6 of the 69 individual cases must now be retried.

The 37-year-old defendant allegedly drugged children with sleeping pills in sweets

The defendant had actually already been sentenced to a long prison term by the Frankfurt Regional Court last year. Several cases are now being retried.
The defendant had actually already been sentenced to a long prison term by the Frankfurt Regional Court last year. Several cases are now being retried.  © Boris Roessler/dpa

In the years between 2014 and 2021, the man had sexually abused several underage boys in Hattersheim, in some cases he is said to have secretly drugged them with sleeping pills in drinks or chocolate beforehand.

During this period, the man worked for two years as a youth coach for third-division soccer club SV Wehen Wiesbaden.

However, children and young people from this Hessian club were not among the victims, according to earlier information from the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office.

The man was arrested in December 2021.

Last year, the Frankfurt Regional Court sentencedthe man to twelve years and nine months in prison for aggravated rape, sexual abuse of children and adolescents and other sexual and bodily harm offenses. Subsequent preventive detention was also ordered.

Partial success of the defendant's appeal

The defendant appealed against this verdict because on one day of the trial the public hearing was not restored after the questioning of a victim. The BGH therefore overturned the conviction in several cases.

The regional court plans to hold the trial until the end of November.