Germany's Federal Court upholds sentence for karate trainer

The German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) has upheld the conviction of a former professional karate trainer for the severe sexual abuse of children. The court rejected the defendant's appeal, making the previous ruling from the Dessau-Roßlau District Court legally binding.

The 55-year-old defendant was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison and ordered into preventive detention. The court findings established that between 1998 and 2010, the trainer exploited his position of authority within a karate club to commit sexual acts against minors.

The ruling confirmed that the defendant had been entrusted with the care and upbringing of the victims, noting that his supervision extended beyond training sessions to include travel to sporting events. The defendant had previously confessed to the crimes.