Trial begins in Würzburg: Man admits lighting deadly New Year's Eve rocket

According to prosecutors, the man knew that the rocket's wooden rod was broken. “This had the result, which was foreseeable and avoidable for the defendant, that the rocket initially flew straight up around three to four meters, then changed direction and landed on the balcony of the victim’s apartment,” said the prosecutor.

According to the investigation, various objects ignited there and the dangerous smoke drifted into the victim's apartment in the apartment building. While extinguishing the fire, rescue workers found the 88-year-old, mobility-impaired resident unconscious in the apartment. Any help came too late for her and she died of smoke inhalation.

A witness that evening and her husband, however, explained in court that a friend of the defendant had ignited the deadly rocket shortly after midnight and deliberately aimed it at the house. In addition to the defendant, there was another 49-year-old suspect. However, according to investigators, his involvement in the crime has not yet been sufficiently proven.

“I didn’t do anything,” the 49-year-old said in court. “As far as I can remember, I was very drunk.” The witness reported that he had celebrated that evening and had drunk more than one bottle of vodka by 10 p.m. He no longer knows whether he was still on the street after midnight setting off fireworks. However, he later recognized himself on video recordings from cell phones that the police showed him. It shows two men after midnight working with pyrotechnics.

Other witnesses reported to the chamber that they had seen two men with fireworks, but were unsure who ultimately set off which rocket.

The district court has so far only scheduled one day for the trial. It is unclear whether there will be a verdict on Wednesday or whether follow-up police investigations will be necessary.