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22 August 2006
POTSDAM, GERMANY – German authorities have indicted two men in connection with the late-night assault on an Ethiopian-born German citizen in a city west of Berlin, the prosecutor said Tuesday.
The victim, doctoral student Ermyas M, 37, suffered serious head injuries. Police broadcast a recording made with M’s mobile phone of the attackers’ racial insults to help track them down. National debate followed on whether people of colour were safe in Germany.
One suspect, 29, was indicted for causing serious bodily harm and the other, 31, for participating in a criminal insult and failing to assist a person in distress. The latter man is free on bail.
The victim has recovered but cannot remember what happened during the April 16 attack in Potsdam. Reports say the facts of the case are in dispute, with allegations that the victim picked the fight.
Matthias Schoeneburg, a lawyer representing the man accused of serious harm, said he expected an acquittal.
DPA
Subject: German news