Acts of defendant are 'degrading, humiliating, and repulsive', say victims' lawyers

The courtroom in the 9th chamber was filled to capacity, with not a single seat remaining unoccupied. Among the attendees were mainly young women, some accompanied by their parents. They were the victims in the trial concerning the production and distribution of child pornographic images and videos.

The accused, a former coach, described as "helpful and friendly" by his peers, had exploited his position of trust. For one victim, he had even been "like a second father." However, it eventually became apparent that he possessed another side, and he seems to be oblivious to the harm he inflicted upon the young, underage women.

The gravity of the situation was underscored when one victim's lawyer took the stand. Her client had been a mere 12 years old when the accused committed his first criminal acts. For four years, the teenager had been part of the volleyball team coached by the defendant.

As a friend of the defendant's daughter, she had constant contact with the alleged perpetrator. "I didn't hold it against him when he occasionally seemed to touch me by accident; As a child, I didn't think anything of it," she recounted during her testimony at the police station.

For three hours, she was confronted with photos and videos in which she was depicted — clothed as well as unclothed — and even images where the accused masturbated to a photo of her, her lawyer stated, describing the acts of the accused as "degrading, humiliating, and repulsive." The lawyer emphasised the "inhumanity" of the defendant's actions, stating that thus far, all they had heard from him were "excuses, explanations, and attempts to downplay the severity of the situation."

"There are likely other victims who remain unaware. The case is extensive. Today, probably only a fraction of the victims are present in this courtroom," stated the lawyer representing 18 victims whom the accused had filmed, secretly and repeatedly, including in changing rooms and showers after sports activities.

At the time, these young women were still minors. Regardless of the circumstances, they were constantly being filmed. The lawyer argued that the fact that the accused referred to a victim's photo as a Wichsvirlag ("jerk-off template") revealed his true character, stressing that if left unchecked, "he poses a danger to society."

"Despite his bestial acts, we must remember that we are still judging a man," highlighted the defendant's lawyer. He appealed to the judges to consider rehabilitation and requested a 5-year prison sentence with full suspension, arguing that this way, the accused would perhaps "find the right words to express a sincere apology."

The prosecution, on the other hand, has called for a prison sentence of eight years, with a portion of the term subject to probation and specific conditions. One such condition would be mandatory psychological treatment for the defendant. In addition, the representative of the public prosecutor's office demanded an appropriate fine. The prosecution argued that the fact that the accused had been a trusted coach and had engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a child under 15 years old should be considered an aggravating factor.

The accused, having confessed to his crimes beforehand, chose not to deliver a final statement to the tribunal.

In the same trial, another man faced the court on Tuesday for downloading child pornographic images and videos onto his computer. The prosecution seeks a 4-year prison sentence, with the possibility of suspension on the condition that he undergoes psychological treatment.

The sentences in the two cases will be pronounced on 13 July.