Verdict Expected in Berlin Serial Assault Trial Spanning 14 Victims

A Berlin court is set to pronounce its verdict in a case in which a 69-year-old electrician stands accused of 22 criminal acts against 14 women between 2016 and 2022. The suspect, who has been in custody since March, is alleged to have met victims through online dating platforms, sometimes presenting himself as a police commissioner and other times as a military pilot. Prosecutors allege he used sedatives combined with alcohol to render women unconscious before assaulting and filming them without their knowledge. The victims ranged in age from 50 to 60 at the time and came from Berlin and Brandenburg; many only discovered what had happened when investigators presented video evidence during the inquiry. The charges include rape, grievous bodily harm, and violation of personal privacy through filming. The prosecution has requested 13 years imprisonment followed by preventive detention. Investigators believe the total number of affected women could be as high as 59, with additional cases still under investigation. The defendant confessed at the start of the trial. The court planned to announce its decision on Wednesday, following defence closing arguments on what is now the 15th day of proceedings.