Bielefeld court begins trial over systematic violence in disability home

The District Court of Bielefeld has commenced a trial against four defendants accused of systematic violence at the Diakonische Stiftung Wittekindshof, a facility for people with disabilities in Bad Oeynhausen, Ostwestfalen. The defendants include three former managers and a 73-year-old psychiatrist.

The prosecution alleges that between 2014 and 2019, nearly 200 incidents occurred involving unlawful deprivation of liberty and excessive measures. These alleged actions included the use of tear gas, physical restraints, and the confinement of residents in a so-called ‘Time-Out room.’

Prosecutors claim that the management ordered staff to use these disproportionate measures and that the psychiatrist facilitated these actions by signing relevant documentation. The 367-page indictment details the systematic nature of the alleged abuses, which have previously sparked political debate regarding the treatment of individuals with behavioral disabilities and the oversight role of authorities.