Corn Field Troubles: The Unusual Case of Klaus M.
In a bizarre twist of events, an elderly farmer named Klaus M. finds himself in the dock, accused of turning his corn fields into danger zones. The Neustadt an der Aisch district court has slapped him with a penalty order for property damage, following allegations that he repeatedly sabotaged maize choppers in the area between 2016 and 2019.
According to the public prosecutor, Klaus M. and his brother Paul, who is currently unfit to stand trial due to a stroke, prepared nasty traps in the corn fields. These included harmfully modified corn cobs, aluminum blocks, iron bars, and oak logs. In seven instances, these deadly devices damaged the blades and shovels of the maize choppers. Fortunately, in three cases, the sabotage was discovered before causing any harm.
Police investigations on the brothers' farm near Wilhelmsdorf led to the discovery of sawn-up iron bars and other metal parts, as well as adhesive tape - the tools of their destructive trade.
Despite the leniency of the initial penalty order for property damage, Klaus M. and his brother chose to appeal, leading to the current high-profile trial in Nuremberg. If convicted of attempted manslaughter, Klaus M. could face up to 15 years in prison.
During the trial, Klaus M. appeared indifferent, stating that he "didn't care about anything." The public prosecutor also cited the potential danger to the lives of maize chopper drivers, particularly mentioning instances where metal parts were thrown around. These objects were also partially concealed with plastic to avoid detection by the metal detectors on the machines.
However, it's important to note that the Nuremberg trials, a series of historic trials held after World War II to prosecute high-ranking Nazi officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity, do not apply to this case. If Klaus M. were to be charged with such actions in a different context or jurisdiction, the consequences would depend on the specific laws of the country and the nature of the charges, which could range from property damage to endangerment or even environmental crimes.
As the trial continues with several days scheduled for witness examinations, the fate of the indifferent farmer awaits a judgment.
