Jonny K. was a man who was fatally beaten at Alexanderplatz in Mitte, Berlin, Germany on 14 October 2012. Six people were criminally prosecuted for the beating.[1]
He was with friends when one of them was attacked, and he received injuries when he attempted to intervene.[2] The attack occurred close to a bar.[5] Jonny K. was hospitalised before succumbing to a brain hemorrhage.[2]
Police in Berlin arrested four of the accused while another one, Onur U., initially fled to Turkey.[2] Onur U., a Turkish citizen, was 19 years old at the time[5] and was an amateur boxer. He later said that he left Germany as he felt he was being presumed guilty.[1] In April 2013 the Turkish authorities extradited Onur U. to Germany.[5] Prosecutors stated that he was the primary culprit,[2] as he was the first to punch the victim.[1]
The trial began in May 2013. Two of the accused were charged with aggravated assault and the remaining ones were charged with grievous bodily harm causing death.[2] The suspects were not charged with manslaughter or murder as the court could not determine that they planned to kill the victim. The prosecution wanted a five-and a-half-year sentence for Onur U. while the suspect said he did not hit Jonny K.[1]
In June 2013 a mistrial was declared, therefore requiring the trial to occur again.[6] Sentencing occurred in August 2013. Onur U., classified as a juvenile, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years. Five other men,[5] all of ages ranging from 19 to 24,[2] each received sentences with the highest being two years and eight months.[5]
Aftermath
According to Deutsche Welle, the killing sparked nationwide outrage and triggered a debate on youth violence.[2]
Jonny K.'s sister, Tina K., began anti-violence advocacy. She was a co-plaintiff in the criminal case against the suspects.[2]
_Jonny_Deipabba.jpg){kind=link}