Second trial on the death of an asylum-seeker, who died in police custody in 2005

Alert DateJanuary 7, 2005 Country: Germany Address: Germany/ Dessau, Magdeburg General Type: Racist violence, Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Asylum seekers
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths 1
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

The asylum-seeker Oury Jalloh, died in police custody in 2005 from heat shock caused by a fire in his cell in the police station in Dessau. "On January 7, 2005, police in the Saxony-Anhalt city of Dessau took Jalloh into custody after he had allegedly harassed two women while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Jalloh later died in a holding cell from smoke inhalation after he had set fire to his own mattress."

The regional court Magdeburg (Landgericht Magdeburg) ruled in a second trial on the death of Oury Jalloh. In the first trial in December 2008, two officers were acquitted of assault causing bodily harm with fatal consequences by the regional court Dessau (Landgericht Dessau). In January 2010, the Federal Court of Justice reversed the acquittal of one of the officers who was in duty. On 13 December 2012, the regional court Magdeburg fined the officer on duty 10,800 euros for involuntary manslaughter.

Demonstrators met outside the Magdeburg court protest against the decision insisting it was murder. Amnesty International as well as Pro Asyl criticised the decision and stated that many questions on what happened in the cell remained unsolved.

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