German father in court on Mallorca: But witnesses and video are gone!

From Ralf Petzold

Palma - A German father who was on vacation with his wife and two children on the Spanish vacation island of Mallorca in 2019 is currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter.

Clara Margais/dpa
The incident took place at Palma de Mallorca airport in 2019.

As the defendant's lawyer confirmed to the German Press Agency, the man is accused of pushing an airport employee after arriving in the island's capital Palma. The woman died five days later in hospital.

The German testified before a criminal court in Palma on Thursday that he had never touched the woman, his lawyer Jaime Campaner added.

Campaner pleaded not guilty. The public prosecutor's office is demanding three years in prison and compensation of 400,000 euros for the family of the deceased. The court's verdict is still pending.

It is not known where the family comes from in Germany. They arrived in Palma on April 27, 2019.

Three girls are said to have witnessed the incident

Clara Margais/dpa
The man wanted to return to the baggage carousel after a smoking break, but was no longer allowed to enter the security area. Then he snapped.

After landing, the 48-year-old father reportedly went to smoke while his wife and children waited for their luggage.

When the man tried to re-enter the secure area with the baggage carousels, a member of security staff stopped him. An argument ensued, during which the German is said to have shouted at and pushed the 64-year-old.

The employee fell to the ground and broke her femur. As the woman was suffering from heart problems, there were complications during the operation in hospital. The 64-year-old did not survive the operation. According to an officer from the Guardia Civil police unit, three girls are said to have witnessed the crime and accused the German.

However, they were not questionedby the police or in court. The video recording of the area in question was also deleted before the investigators had access to it.