Senior Partner Blog

Andreas was 20 years old when his life changed. His adult life was just about to begin. Andreas had a night on the town with his friends. On the bus back home some youngsters started to pick a fight. One of Andreas’ friends had a tooth knocked out. Andreas tried to calm everyone down. When leaving the bus, another kid (17) knocked him from behind. Andreas fell and hit his head on the asphalt leaving him unconscious. In hospital it was found that Andreas had several bleedings in his brain. The outcome was uncertain. However, Andreas survived and woke up. To a new beginning. He had lost his hearing on one ear, memory was largely gone and he had major difficulties concentrating. In other words, Andreas’ life was changed to the worse for good. Now he can only work part time, at best, and he is not able to continue his education.
So what about the guy responsible for all this? Yes he was caught and sentenced to eight (8) months in a juvenile correction center. Then he goes on with his life. Andreas cannot. Ever. Is this reasonble? Hardly. I am not saying that the assaulter necessary should be punished harder (even if a little bit harsher consequences would not be wrong). After all, also the assaulter represents a young life which should not be ruined easily. But here society has a responsibility. Society decides on the punishment of the assaulter and should then also be liable to compensate the victim generously. That is the hallmark of a civil and humane society.