Baden-Baden (dpa / lsw) - The regional court there sentenced a man to six years in prison for a violent robbery of a jewelry store in the Kurhaus colonnades in Baden-Baden. It found the 31-year-old guilty of particularly serious robbery and dangerous bodily harm on Thursday.
In May 2016, the man and an accomplice, who is still unknown, engaged an employee of the store in a conversation, suddenly clutched her from behind and sprayed her with tear gas. The perpetrators then tied her up with tape. The victim is still traumatized and has suffered damage to both eyes, according to the court.
According to the information, the robbers took the key to the showcase from the woman and stole, among other things, watches, jewelry and high-quality sunglasses with a total value of around 190,000 euros. A small portion of the loot reappeared. Goods worth around 175,000 euros are still considered lost almost seven years later.
The then 24-year-old accused, who had been in prison for drug and violent offenses for a long time, fled after the crime. The Lithuanian was arrested in August last year in his home country - thanks to DNA evidence that was found on the remains of the adhesive tape at the scene of the crime. He had stated in court that he had acted on behalf of a gang and had given the loot to others. He didn't want to give their names.
The verdict was preceded by a so-called understanding: in return for a confession, the parties involved agreed at the beginning of the trial on a sentence of between five and a half and six and a half years. The public prosecutor's office now pleaded for six years and three months, the defense attorney for a sentence at the lower end of the agreed framework. An appeal against the judgment is possible.
The Kurhaus colonnades were built more than 150 years ago in the style of the Parisian shopping arcades of the time. The almost 20 small boutiques should meet the increasing demand from tourists and traders in the up-and-coming spa town. In the now listed shops at the entrance to the city center and near the spa gardens, spa house with casino and the theater, customers will find exclusive handicrafts, among other things.
