Parents of Ahrtal flood victim file constitutional complaint
The parents of Johanna Orth, a 22-year-old who died during the 2021 Ahrtal flood disaster, have filed a constitutional complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany. Represented by attorney Christian Hecken, Ralph and Inka Orth are seeking a complete reopening of the criminal investigation into the catastrophe.
The complaint challenges decisions made by the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office, the General Public Prosecutor's Office in Koblenz, and the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz. The parents argue that their fundamental rights to a right to be heard, effective legal protection, and effective prosecution have been violated.
Specific criticisms include the failure to evaluate their daughter's mobile phone and the failure to interview firefighters who allegedly provided incorrect warnings. The parents are also representing the interests of 135 deceased individuals and 777 injured persons. Previous investigations, including those involving former Ahrweiler District Administrator Jürgen Pföhler, had been discontinued without a criminal trial regarding disaster management failures.
Entities
Christian Hecken · Federal Constitutional Court · Inka Orth · Johanna Orth · Ralph Orth
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Johanna Orth died in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler during the night of July 14 to July 15, 2021. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The investigation against former District Administrator Jürgen Pföhler was discontinued. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The complaint targets decisions by the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office and the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ralph and Inka Orth filed a constitutional complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Firefighters who allegedly gave incorrect warnings were not interviewed as witnesses. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The parents represent the interests of 135 deceased and 777 injured persons. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The parents claim their daughter's mobile phone was not evaluated during the investigation. www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de