Criminal appeal: Review of offender-victim reconciliation findings under § 46a StGB

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) 5th Criminal Senate dismissed the appeals of two defendants as unfounded, upholding the verdict of the Leipzig Regional Court dated August 19, 2024, and ordering each appellant to bear their own legal costs and the costs incurred by the auxiliary plaintiff during the appeal proceedings. The case involved a criminal appeal where the defendants challenged the lower court's conviction and sentencing; notably, the appellate court observed without objection that the lower court had additionally found the conditions for an offender-victim reconciliation under § 46a No. 1 StGB to be met in favor of one defendant, even though this finding was not supported by the established facts. The decision confirms the prior judgment as valid, with no legal errors to the detriment of the defendants identified upon review.