In the Wermelskirchen abuse complex, the investigators speak of a new dimension of brutality. Disabled children and five infants were among the victims. The defender of the main suspect has now commented on the case.
Cologne (dpa / lnw) - According to his defense attorney, the main suspect in the Wermelskirchen abuse complex helped extensively with the clarification. The Cologne lawyer Christian Lange reported on Friday that he confessed to the allegations very quickly after his arrest and admitted to further actions beyond the arrest warrant.
His client also helped identify other people he had contact with. In February, the 44-year-old was questioned for four days. In doing so, he supported the police investigations and helped to solve cases beyond his own responsibility.
According to the lawyer, he assumes that his client's cooperation will make a significant contribution to the success of the investigation. His client had sexually abused young children. "He is responsible for that and he knows that a long prison sentence awaits him, rightly so."
The man from Wermelskirchen "does everything possible to prevent him ever again being at risk of such and similar crimes". This includes breaking all bridges to the scene with his help and trying to get therapy.
His wife and family were completely surprised by the arrest and the allegations. They had no idea and through no fault of their own found themselves in an extremely difficult situation. The lawyer asked the journalists not to report on the family members and not to contact them.
According to the investigators, the new abuse complex in Wermelskirchen has a dimension of brutality that exceeds that of other complexes. The main accused offered his services as a babysitter on the Internet and was thus able to approach his victims. He also exchanged child pornographic images and videos of "unimaginable brutality" with dozens of other men.
So far, 73 suspects and 33 victims have been identified, investigators reported on Monday. The youngest child was one month old. The 44-year-old, who has no previous convictions, is said to have abused twelve children himself - ten boys and two girls - in the greater Cologne area. So far, 18 acts of abuse have been attributed to him.
