New Trial Begins for Accused in Acid Attack Case
Wuppertal, NRW - It's been over five years since former Innogy CFO Bernhard Günther (56) was attacked with acid, but the legal proceedings continue. The public prosecutor's office in Wuppertal has charged a second suspect (36) for his alleged involvement in the crime. The trial will commence on December 13.
Preliminary signs of the second suspect's potential involvement emerged during the trial of the first defendant. However, back in 2019, authorities were unable to substantiate those suspicions. Subsequent arrests took place in Cologne (first instance) and Dortmund (second arrest in June).
Charges against the main suspect primarily center around grievous bodily harm.
On March 4, 2018, Dr. Bernhard Günther, then CFO of Innogy, was attacked near his home in Haan, Düsseldorf. Two men poured sulfuric acid on him while he was jogging. Fortunately, he was able to drag himself home and rinse some acid off his body with water. Günther had to undergo multiple surgeries following the attack, which nearly cost him his life.
At the time, the proposed acquisition of Innogy by Eon was imminent. As a result, Günther believed the attack may have been orchestrated by someone within his professional environment, aiming to eliminate him as a competitor.
The first perpetrator, Nuri T. (43), was sentenced to twelve years in prison for grievous bodily harm in 2022.
During the trial against Nuri T., Günther shared his post-attack experiences. " Life is different now. Every time I look in the mirror, I think 'That's not you.' "He had to wear make-up for several years due to the aftermath of the attack, taking around 5 to 10 minutes daily to apply.
The Günther family still grapples with the effects of the acid attack. Their children have been limited in their activities due to the incident. The family has also undergone psychological treatment for over a year to cope with the fear that now accompanies their daily lives.
Following the arrest of the 36-year-old suspect, Dr. Bernhard Günther and his lawyer expressed hope that the person who ordered the attack might now be identified. "This arrest brings us one step closer to the initiators of this heinous crime," Günther explained through his spokesperson.
"The two main suspects were likely not the primary instigators of the attack," Günther's lawyer opined.
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