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But it is not an acquittalHe killed, now he's free! Did the knife stabber get out of jail because of maternity leave?
Kemal A. was in custody for almost two years.
Now the suspected knife stabber from Leipzig has been released, even though the allegations against him are serious. The trial collapses because a judge goes on maternity leave, but that's not the only reason. And it's not an acquittal either.
Kemal A. is on trial in Leipzig for a knife attack
The trial against Kemal A. collapsed before the Leipzig regional court. The man is said to have stabbed another man in front of a bar in Leipzig on June 29, 2024. According to the court, the stabs hit the back and head. A central artery was also injured. The victim initially survived thanks to emergency surgery, but died as a result on December 17, 2024.
Trial against suspected knife stabber Kemal A. collapses due to a judge's maternity leave
Shortly after the crime, Kemal A. turned himself in to the police. The defendant has been in custody since June 2024. The complex trial began in April 2025, 46 days of negotiations had been completed, 40 witnesses were heard, and now it was abruptly stopped.
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A court spokeswoman explains that a member of the chamber was unable to continue negotiations because maternity leave periods began in May 2026. In addition, the process had to be interrupted repeatedly over the past few months. According to the court, Kemal A. was absent several times due to illness and suffered, among other things, two heart attacks. The last appointment at the end of April was also canceled due to a sick report. The problem behind this is fixed legal interruption periods. If the pause is too long, a criminal trial must begin again. According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, a simple change of judge is not possible.
You can see what the whole procedural chaos actually means in the video above.
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Why Kemal A. is still being released now
The fact that Kemal A. no longer has to wear handcuffs is not just due to the failed procedure. The arrest warrant was suspended on April 28, 2026. According to the court, the decisive factors were the unusually long pre-trial detention, the unclear restart of the proceedings and the defendant's serious illness. From the court's point of view, it was also about proportionality.
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But the man is not completely free. He has to report twice a week and is not allowed to leave Germany. It is also clear that Kemal A. will not get away with being released. The proceedings must be reopened and the suspected knife stabber from Leipzig will be back in the dock.
Sources used: own RTL research
