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Scandal in Cologne: Man threatens dog owner with gun – bounty offered!
A Cologne defendant threatened to use a weapon because of his dog; Trial for extortion and illegal possession of weapons.
Scandal in Cologne: Man threatens dog owner with gun – bounty offered!
A spectacular case is currently occupying the Cologne courts and is causing a stir throughout the region. A 48-year-old man is on trial for attempted extortion and illegal possession of weapons. Express reports that the defendant threatened the new owners of his ex-dog with a semi-automatic pistol to get the four-legged friend back.
The Labrador was given to the Cologne native by a lawyer for his birthday a few years ago. Since the man was traveling a lot for work at the time, he was looking for dog sitters. A family took over the care of the dog, which ultimately led to a dispute over the final ownership. The defendant viewed the handover as a “permanent loan” and not as a gift.
The incident and the threat
In September 2022, the defendant demanded the dog back and lured the new owner to his apartment by pretending to be seriously ill. However, when he refused to return it because the dog had settled in well with the new family, the defendant threatened with the gun: "If you don't give the dog out, then we are enemies, I can do something else." A neighbor heard this threat and informed the police, which led to a search of the defendant's apartment. There the officers found the illegal pistol in a safe.
As a result, the defendant reported the new owner for embezzlement, but the proceedings were dropped. On the witness stand, the injured party also reported that there was a bounty of 1,000 euros on his head for the return of the dog.
Legal consequences
Despite the strong accusations, the court was unable to prove the threat beyond doubt. Nevertheless, the defendant was convicted of illegal possession of a weapon and received a seven-month suspended prison sentence. Interestingly, he said afterwards that he no longer wanted the dog back. Jurcase explains that German law distinguishes between robbery and extortion, although in this case clear threats were decisive for the court hearing.
This bizarre and tragic story raises questions not only about the bond between humans and animals, but also about the social meaning of responsibility and ownership. The local population is following the trial with interest and is excited to see how this unusual case will develop.