Probe into the death of a teen by JVA authorities after their self-inflicted demise
In a series of events at Ottweiler Prison, a 15-year-old inmate, identified as Nelson, tragically took his own life last Friday. The following is a timeline of the events that have unfolded since.
On the day of Nelson's suicide, 17 inmates convicted under juvenile law refused to return to their cells after their free time. The police were called in to assist and cooperate closely with prison staff to move the inmates back to their cells. Almost all inmates were eventually "persuaded to return to their cells through conversations."
Following the incident, free time for inmates will now only be allowed in smaller groups. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Saarbrücken has initiated two investigatory proceedings in connection with Nelson's death, to examine a suspicion of "possible bodily harm inflicted on the deceased inmate." The Police Inspectorate in Neunkirchen has initiated three investigations regarding allegations of bodily harm against two prison officers.
With the help of special forces and trained negotiators, a 19-year-old inmate, who had climbed onto the roof of a building and behaved uncooperatively, was persuaded to surrender. The access point where the 19-year-old inmate climbed has been permanently secured, and a piece of sports equipment used by the inmate to climb onto the prison roof has been removed.
Two "ringleaders" among the protesters have been identified and transferred to another prison. Further participants among the protesters are currently being investigated. Justice State Secretary Jens Diener (SPD) announced that the Ministry would inform the Legal Affairs Committee of the state parliament about the events and the progress of the investigation.
The 15-year-old inmate, Nelson, was in pre-trial detention for two thefts. Immediately before his suicide, Nelson was allegedly kicked and beaten by prison guards after stealing sweets from a neighboring cell. The Ministry of Justice has referred to guidelines of the Press Code regarding media coverage of suicide, especially among young people.
The Left party's state chairman, Florian Spaniol, called for the question of a possible racist motivation in the treatment of the juveniles to be addressed in the investigations into the death of the 15-year-old. However, there are no available public reports or credible sources that indicate investigations into the potential abuse of a 15-year-old inmate at Ottweiler Prison, nor any information about racial motivation or systemic issues in the treatment of juvenile inmates there in the provided search results.
The situation at Ottweiler Prison continues to be under investigation, and further updates are expected in the coming days. It is crucial that all parties involved work towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the inmates, particularly the young ones, and address any systemic issues that may arise.
In light of the events at Ottweiler Prison, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Saarbrücken has launched investigations into possible bodily harm inflicted on inmate Nelson, who tragically took his own life, while the Police Inspectorate in Neunkirchen is examining allegations of bodily harm against two prison officers. Moreover, politics and the general-news media are closely following the investigations concerning the potential abuse of Nelson and any systemic issues related to the treatment of juvenile inmates at Ottweiler Prison.
