Winnenden: Woman stays with husband despite violence and attempted murder

Winnenden: Woman stays with husband despite violence and attempted murder

The case of domestic violence in Winnenden is currently being heard at the Waiblingen District Court. A woman recounts her dramatic experiences with her husband, who beat her and even tried to kill her last year. Their descriptions are touching and leave the audience in the courtroom emotional. The woman says she would rather die than endure the continued violence. Nevertheless, despite these terrible experiences, she stays with her husband. During her testimony, she falters and cries, further adding to the tense atmosphere in the room. An interpreter who is supposed to translate the woman's statements into German hesitates, showing the severity of the situation, which becomes clear to the people present, as zvw.de reports.

Domestic violence is a serious social problem. According to a Duden definition, the home is “an apartment where someone is at home and feels comfortable”. However, for many victims of domestic violence, this place is anything but safe. Violence in family or partner relationships includes physical, sexual and psychological violence. The statistics show that the number of victims of domestic violence rose to 240,547 cases in 2022, as documented by the Federal Criminal Police Office. These sad figures illustrate the urgency with which the issue must be addressed, according to anwalt.de.

Legal basis and penalties

Domestic violence includes various criminal offenses that are enshrined in the Criminal Code (StGB). These include, among other things, bodily harm (§ 223 StGB), grievous bodily harm (§ 224 StGB) as well as murder and manslaughter (§§ 211, 212 StGB). Women, men and children can equally become victims of domestic violence. About a third of the victims are male, especially between the ages of 21 and 40. The penalties for different offenses vary considerably. Simple bodily harm is punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine, while grievous bodily harm can be punished by up to 10 years in prison. It is important that victims in acute situations can contact the police immediately, expel the perpetrators from the apartment and ban them from returning.

It is crucial for the women and men affected to take legal action. A lawyer can help you file criminal charges and support applications under the Violence Protection Act. In addition, the family court can issue long-term bans, such as a ban on entering the shared apartment.

The emotional challenge of the victims

The emotional challenges faced by victims of domestic violence can often be overwhelming. In Winnenden it becomes clear how great the inner conflict is for the woman, who is unable to separate from her husband despite the abusive relationship. This highlights that domestic violence not only has physical but also strong psychological effects. The support of friends, family and professionals is essential in such critical situations.

The case in Winnenden will continue to be pursued and it is hoped that this trial will raise awareness of the issues of domestic violence in order to ensure greater support and protection for those affected.