Abuse of authority

Two police officers acquitted in court

It was a "tough" affair at the regional court in Ried regarding the charges against two Innviertel police officers who were accused of making false statements after an accident. An expert opinion has now tipped the scales and the two officers have been acquitted.

There had been a crash after a rear-end collision. The officers had claimed that the driver, who is mentally ill, had deliberately driven into their patrol car after being stopped, causing a leg injury to a police officer. 

Prosecution following expert testimony
However, a motor vehicle expert testified at the trial against the driver that there was something wrong with the officers' statements and that the collision could not have caused the injury. The application to place the "fugitive" in an institution was rejected, but charges were brought against the police officers on suspicion of abuse of authority. They faced up to five years in prison.

On Tuesday, after an adjournment, a further expert witness had his say, whose certificate was decisive. He found that the incident could at least have happened as the officers had described it. The result was a legally binding acquittal.