Trial against Marvin S. for alleged rape resumes in Berlin
The trial against 24-year-old Marvin S. for an alleged rape resumed on Wednesday at the Berlin Regional Court. The proceedings had previously been aborted due to procedural errors. Prosecutors accuse him of abusing a woman at a New Year's Eve party in December 2020.
The case of Marvin S. has attracted public attention for years. On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, the Berlin Regional Court resumed the trial, which had been aborted in May 2023 due to a procedural error. The 24-year-old defendant is accused of raping a 22-year-old woman during a New Year's Eve party in Berlin-Mitte.
The alleged act occurred in the night to January 1, 2021, in an apartment in the capital. According to the prosecution, Marvin S. intoxicated the woman, whom he had met via a dating app, and sexually assaulted her against her will. In her testimony, the victim stated that she woke up in the defendant's apartment after the party and could not remember giving consent. "I felt helpless and hurt," she said in court.
Marvin S. vehemently denies the allegations. In his defense, he stated: "I did nothing illegal. It was consensual." His lawyer argued that the witness's statements were contradictory and that there was insufficient evidence. The prosecution relies on medical reports and statements from the woman's friends, who reported her distressed condition.
The trial is expected to last several weeks and includes further interrogations. Experts emphasize the difficulty of such cases, where often only the victim's word stands against the accused's. In the context of the #MeToo movement, the case is seen as an example of ongoing challenges in handling sexual offenses. The court plans to deliver a verdict at the end of the proceedings based on the collected evidence.
Background: Marvin S. is a young man from Berlin who led a normal life before the incident. The charge is based on Section 177 of the German Criminal Code, which punishes serious sexual assaults with up to 15 years in prison. Previous hearings have shown that alcohol consumption and questions of consent play central roles.