Mike B. and Benjamin D., both 16 at the time of the rampage in June 2009, were found guilty of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm. They were sentenced to seven years, and four years and 10 months, respectively.

The third attacker, Ivan Z., was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and sentenced to two years, 10 months’ jail.

The trio had been in the Bavarian capital on a class trip from Switzerland to mark the end of their exams. They were celebrating with other classmates by drinking and smoking marijuana in a park.

At some point the mood changed decisively and the trio went on a rampage, first attacking three men in the park, then seriously bashing a businessman, causing life-threatening injuries, and finally beating up another student. The businessman, a father from Ratingen in North Rhine-Westphalia, needed several operations and still has not fully recovered from his injuries.

Shortly after the attacks, state prosecutor Laurent Lafleur told Focus magazine that one of the victims had been a disabled man from Macedonia whom the trio beat until he lost consciousness.

One of the attackers then took a run up and kicked his head which was flopping over the edge of a park bench.

“One can only speak of good luck that the man did not suffer a broken neck and die,” said Lafleur.

During the eight month trial, which took place behind closed doors because the defendants were minors, the trio apologised and reached an agreement to pay compensation to four of their victims.

The state prosecutor had called for Mike B. to be sentenced to nine years’ jail, Benjamin D. to seven years and Ivan Z. to six.

DPA/The Local/dw