Court acquits police commander in shooting trial
A police commander who issued a shoot-to-kill order against a gunman two years ago has been acquitted by a court in the south-eastern town of Chur.
Markus Reinhardt was charged with intentional homicide for his order to shoot a 22-year-old gunman, who wounded two policemen with an assault rifle. The unemployed butcher was shot in the head by a marksman after a ten-hour siege at his apartment.
Reinhardt was facing five years in prison.
However, Graubünden’s cantonal court said the order to kill the gunman had been given in a situation of “legitimate self-defence.” There was no reason for police to wait for another round of fire from the gunman, as the attack had started long before.
The court added that Reinhardt’s order was adequate, given the extreme situation. It said that other options would not have succeeded.
Family appeals ruling
During the initial hearing, prosecutor Robert Akeret headed the inquiry into the incident and concluded that Reinhardt acted in self-defence. However, canton Graubünden’s court decided to reopen the investigation after the victim’s family appealed the ruling.
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