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Shock in Aqualand: Trial for serious child abuse started
A man is standing trial in Cologne over serious allegations of sexual abuse of a girl in Aqualand between 2016 and 2019.
Shock in Aqualand: Trial for serious child abuse started
In a sensational trial that began on August 25, 2025 at the Cologne Regional Court, a 46-year-old must answer for the sexual abuse of his ex-partner's daughter. The allegations, which prosecutors say occurred between late 2016 and late 2019, accuse the defendant of abusing the girl, who was born in December 2007. The crime scenes include the Aqualand leisure pool in Chorweiler and the mother's apartment in Bergheim. [Rundschau Online].
The tragic gift given to the girl, a voucher for Aqualand, turned out to be disastrous. The defendant's defense attorney, Michael M. Lang, initially does not want to provide any information about the allegations and refers to "inconclusive evidence." It is interesting that during a short relationship of around two to three months with the girl's mother, the defendant often spent time with the family even after the separation. This would prove to be a double sword.
Profound impact
The serious consequences of the crimes for the girl affected cannot be dismissed. She already developed a need for therapeutic treatment as a primary school student. Anxiety, depression, and even self-harm tendencies are not uncommon for victims of sexual abuse. According to Lichtweg, such traumatic experiences can lead to a variety of problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, which can manifest itself in flashbacks and nightmares.
The girl's mother reported that she found out about the allegations from one of her daughter's friends. In a confidential conversation, her daughter finally opened up about the terrible experiences that shaped her childhood. “I trusted him completely,” said the mother about the defendant, describing him as funny and trustworthy. The trial highlights how deceptively secure relationships can sometimes appear while serious offenses are taking place in the background.
The evidence and the course of the trial
The defendant himself has so far shown little cooperation and came to the hearings with his public defender. A possible eyewitness, a school friend of the girl, is on the court's radar to gain further insight into the incidents. During the first hearings, the accused's daughter was also called as a witness. She stated that she had never met her father in person, which makes the family history more complicated. It remains to be seen how the process will evolve; a long and painful process still lies ahead.
The hearings are scheduled to last a total of six days, with a verdict expected on September 22nd. Until then, the defendant is presumed innocent. [T-Online]. aftereffects.