Munich public prosecutor's office: proceedings against Boateng discontinued!

Munich public prosecutor's office: proceedings against Boateng discontinued!

The Munich public prosecutor's office has stopped the investigation against former national soccer player Jérôme Boateng. This happened in connection with allegations of physical assault against his ex-girlfriend Kasia Lenhardt. The decision was made according to the principle “in dubio pro reo”, which means that in case of doubt the decision is made in favor of the defendant. Loud laola1.at Boateng will therefore not be charged with bodily harm, coercion or defamation.

Boateng expressed his relief that the proceedings were discontinued after five years and hopes for peace for his family. The investigation began in 2019 but was temporarily halted before being reopened following Lenhardt's death in 2021. The reason for the reopening was new evidence that raised suspicions that Lenhardt suffered massive injuries shortly before her death.

Insufficient evidence

Despite concerns about the circumstances surrounding Lenhardt's death, prosecutors found insufficient evidence to justify charges. The responsible investigators stated that Lenhardt was no longer available as a witness and that the documented injuries were not sufficient to provide proof of a crime. It therefore remained unclear how the incidents actually occurred. Boateng's lawyer emphasized that all investigations had shown that Boateng did not commit the crimes.

In contrast, the Lenhardt family's lawyer pointed out that Boateng had only been convicted of assaulting another ex-partner last year. This raises questions about the dynamics of violence in the athlete's life and highlights the challenges of dealing with domestic violence.

Context of violence against women

The discussion about violence against women is particularly relevant in light of current social developments. On December 3, 2024, the German Institute for Human Rights presented the first periodic report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Germany. In this report, which covers developments in the period 2020 to 2022, the efforts of the federal and state governments to realize their human rights obligations are analyzed and documented in detail. Violent acts such as those accused of Jérôme Boateng are the focus of this reporting, which highlights the seriousness of the issue. Further details can be found on the website Institute for Human Rights.