Criminal case Chantal

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The death of 11-year-old Chantal from Hamburg became known nationwide in January 2012 as the Chantal or Chantal criminal case . The child died of a methadone overdose .

The youth welfare office came under criticism because it had not recognized the neglect of the girl and had not followed up on indications of drug use by the foster parents. The public administration reacted by introducing new control mechanisms and expanding existing ones.

Life situation and family

Chantal came into the foster family of Wolfgang A. (51) and Sylvia L. (47) in 2008. Until her death she had lived with her foster parents in a four-room rented apartment in the Hamburg district of Wilhelmsburg . A total of six people lived in the apartment: Chantal, the foster mother, the foster father, two biological children and another foster child.

Circumstances of death

From March 2012, German daily newspapers and news magazines reported in detail on the case. Chantal was found dead in her bed on January 16, 2012. The autopsy revealed that she died of methadone poisoning. Chantal was buried on February 7, 2012 in a cemetery in the Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg district .

Role of the authorities

After the death, the Hamburg citizenship formed a special committee to clarify the circumstances of death. The committee should also shed light on structures and processes in the field of youth welfare and draw up recommendations for improving child protection . From the end of January 2012, the opposition successfully demanded the replacement of Markus Schreiber (SPD) as district manager, because his authority had made serious mistakes in the Chantal case. The former head of the youth welfare office also had to vacate her post in 2012. Markus Schreiber has been a member of the Hamburg Parliament since March 2015.

Investigation and prosecution

Investigators found methadone tablets in the foster family's garage and at the foster father's workplace. The Wilhelmsburg youth welfare office and the rooms of the independent organization that had looked after Chantal were searched. Youth welfare and care files as well as computer data were secured. The Hamburg public prosecutor brought charges against Chantal's foster parents. The allegation was negligent homicide and violation of the duty of care.

Legal proceedings

After a decision by the Higher Regional Court in August 2013, both foster parents have to answer in court. It thus corrected a decision of the Hamburg Regional Court , which only wanted to negotiate against the foster father for negligent homicide by omission. In the view of the Higher Regional Court, however, the foster mother is also sufficiently suspected of negligent homicide and violation of her duty of care and upbringing.

Start of process

After about three years, the trial against the foster parents should begin on December 1, 2014.

Pleadings, judgment and revision

The verdict was announced on February 5, 2015. Sylvia L. was sentenced to eight months 'imprisonment and Wolfgang A. to twelve months' imprisonment for negligent homicide by omission. Both sentences were suspended. With regard to the violation of the duty of care and upbringing, which had also been charged, both defendants were acquitted because the court saw no indications that the victim was neglected. Both the public prosecutor's office and the defense lawyers announced that they would appeal the verdict.

Political responsibility

On February 10, 2012, Markus Schreiber took over political responsibility for the omissions in connection with Chantal's death and asked the Senate to recall him from the position of district head of Hamburg-Mitte. Olaf Scholz , First Mayor of Hamburg, announced that the Senate would comply with this request.

Aftermath and Social Debate

The social authority has set up a special control body that is to monitor the work of youth welfare offices and social services more closely in the future. The authority is reacting to omissions that apparently led to the death of the eleven-year-old. In addition, the criteria for foster parents in Hamburg have been tightened. Anyone who wants to take in a foster child in the future must present a health certificate with a drug test. In addition, a certificate of good conduct is required, which should not only be checked for relevant crimes such as violence against children or child abuse, but also for all crimes that have occurred up to that point.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ After almost three years of trial against Chantal's foster parents
  2. ↑ Methadone death of an eleven-year-old: Chantal's foster parents sentenced to suspended sentences - Spiegel Online
  3. ↑ District Office Manager asks to be dismissed ( Memento of the original from February 15, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Senate press release, February 10, 2012 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.hamburg.de