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Trial Opens in Schweinfurt Over Deaths of Two Young Sisters at Gravel‑Pit Lake

The court will decide whether prosecutors can prove that an alleged lapse in parental supervision caused the drownings.

Overview

  • The trial against a 33‑year‑old mother and a 39‑year‑old father began at the Amtsgericht Schweinfurt on May 22, 2026, with prosecutors charging negligent homicide for breach of their duty to supervise.
  • Autopsies concluded the six‑ and seven‑year‑old sisters died by drowning after prolonged submersion, with investigators reporting at least ten minutes underwater.
  • Prosecutors say the parents left the non‑swimming children unattended for at least 15 minutes at the Baggersee, while bystanders rescued and resuscitated the girls before they were taken to hospital; the seven‑year‑old died the next day and the six‑year‑old died the day after.
  • The defendants have not publicly commented and the court will now examine forensic findings, witness testimony and the timeline to determine whether criminal negligence can be proven.
  • Under German law a breach of Aufsichtspflicht can trigger criminal liability when negligence causes death, and the case highlights safety risks at informal swimming spots and the legal scrutiny of parental supervision.