A participant in a demonstration against pandemic restrictions in Berlin accused of attacking police officers has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, suspended. On Tuesday, the Berlin-Tiergarten district court found the 50-year-old from Saxony guilty of the charges of disorderly conduct, attempted grievous bodily harm and assault on law enforcement officers. The man threw bottles at police officers, which was deemed “highly dangerous” by the court.
Berlin trial: defendant came to demonstration from Saxony
On November 18, 2020, around 9,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest against the restrictions being imposed on the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the Bundestag was discussing further measures to protect public health. Police cordoned off the protesters. Water cannons were used for the first time in years. About 2,500 officers took part in the action, nearly 80 of whom were injured.
The defendant explained that he only “picked up and threw away” an empty plastic bottle. He and his wife had come from Saxony to Berlin to talk to other people who, like them, were self-employed and were then deprived of their income.
The defense stressed that its client was not a so-called coronavirus denier. The prosecution asked for one year and four months of suspended imprisonment. The defense demanded acquittal. The verdict is not yet final.
Source: www.t-online.de