Dresden (dpa/sn) - The two perpetrators who smashed a display case in the historic Green Vault Dresden in November 2019 and stole jewelry from it were, according to estimates by an anthropologist, of medium height. However, the method used for the analysis was often limited, said Andreas Düring, an expert from the Munich Institute for Forensic Experts on Friday in the jewel theft process at the Dresden Regional Court. Poor lighting conditions in the camera images, blurred contours, clothing and biological aspects made it difficult to identify shoulders or the head end. Comparative persons who were photographed in the positions of the perpetrators were used to evaluate the images. Düring also assumes that one of the perpetrators is right-handed and the other could tend to be left-handed.
As the expert explained, body heights were determined by comparing video stills of the crime with those of officers roughly in the same location. As a result, one of the people was estimated "between 1.80 meters and 1.86 meters, the other between 1.74 meters and 1.82 meters tall, with shoes". The tolerance without shoes is 0.5 to 4 centimeters. However, Düring pointed out that a height analysis can only exclude one person, "an identification is not possible".
According to him, the typical position in front of the display case in the jewel room, how he grips the handle of the axe, and the direction of vibration when hitting the glass display case speak for the right-handed person. For the other person, it is exactly the opposite and speaks more for left-handers. The images were taken at 4:59 a.m. and show the perpetrators using small axes to smash and reach into the display case.
In the process, six young men between the ages of 23 and 28 are charged with aggravated gang theft, arson and particularly aggravated arson. The Germans come from a well-known Arab family in Berlin. On the morning of November 25, 2019, they are said to have stolen 21 pieces of jewelry with diamonds and brilliants with a total value of over 113 million euros from the Treasury Museum and left property damage of a good one million euros - by setting fire to an electrical box and a getaway car.
