Chemnitz Chatter

So this is one of those odd stories to bring up in Germany.

Around a year ago in Chemnitz, a major German city between Dresden and Frankfurt....a murder occurred on the streets there.  German guy dead....Syrian immigrant is the suspect.  For a week or two....demonstrations occurred and German political figures got themselves into the middle of this....trying to get the public in Chemnitz to simmer down and let justice take place.

So the court case for the accused Syrian is about to conclude.  Sometime between late-September and mid-October, the court will hand down the verdict and sentence.

Attempted murder charges?  No.  The prosecution team went for manslaughter, and bodily harm.  What they've asked for is nine years for the manslaughter episode, and two years for bodily harm.

The max that you can get in Germany for manslaughter?  Fifteen years.

Current problems in the case?  At the beginning, there was a stance taken that a witness could say that he saw the stabbing (note, there's a second suspect in the episode).  This witness?  Current chatter suggests that he didn't really observe much of the stabbing.  His value in the case is diminished, whether the prosecutor wants to admit that or not.

Could the court say that the witness isn't reliable, and that the 2nd guy might be more involved?  Maybe.  They could say 'innocent' on manslaughter, and just go for the bodily harm situation.

How would the public react?  I suspect with significant anger.  Politically, it would hurt the general public view of 'justice' and be another reason to vote AfD in future elections.

How did this stabbing business all occur?  Some perceived threat, and the two immigrants holding a knife as a general defense weapon.  Germans often point out this knife business is becoming a daily topic on assaults and they perceive it as a public 'alarm' situation.

UPDATE:  Well, this afternoon, the news came out.  Convicted.  Nine years, six months.  An appeal for the Syrian?  Likely.  But the charge is over manslaughter and bodily harm....not murder in first or second degree.  Odds of any public discontent?  I would suggest not.