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CRIME

Memorial for beating victim after first arrest

Hundreds of Berliners took part in a memorial service on Sunday for Jonny K., the 20-year-old man beaten to death in the centre of the city two weeks ago.

Memorial for beating victim after first arrest
Photo: DPA

“We wanted to celebrate Jonny’s life one last time,” a former student said. “He was such a happy person. I’m sure he would have been glad that looked back on his life.”

Several young people at the event at Alexanderplatz in the middle of the city, wore t-shirts with Jonny K.’s picture on them.

No speeches were made at the event, in keeping with Buddhist custom – Jonny’s K.’s mother was brought up in Thailand, and both he and his sisters were brought up as Buddhists. A monk did speak a few words during the private service attended by Jonny’s K.’s parents and siblings, and around 60 invited guests.

The friends who tried to help Jonny K. but were caught in a fight with his attackers also attended the service.

Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit and the Berlin state Justice Minister Thomas Heilmann also attended the private service. “I am here to express my condolences and sympathy with the family,” Wowereit told reporters afterwards.

Heilmann said the crime cast a shadow on Berlin. “We as politicians also have to do all we can to investigate this crime,” he said.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack, while police were this week searching for a 19-year-old amateur boxer named only as Onur U.

The Bild newspaper reported on Monday that one of its reporters investigating the story had met Onur U. in a café in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday. Describing him as a “failed amateur boxer with a Turkish and a German passport,” the paper said he was planning to return to Germany to face questioning next week.

“Yes, I was there but I only hit the other guy,” he told the paper. “With my fists. I don’t know what was happening to the one on the ground. I would never kick someone lying on the ground. That’s a question of honour for me.”

He also said that the two men previously questioned and released, who reportedly told the police about Onur. U.’s involvement did so to deflect the blame from themselves. “They obviously agreed the story between themselves. They want to put the blame on me,” he told the paper.

He also denied that he had fled the country following the killing. “That’s not true,” he said. “My father had an appointment here about some property. I didn’t want to let him come here alone.”

German authorities have not yet applied to deport Onur U., and would not say whether an international arrest warrant has been issued.

Melih Y. was arrested last week in connection with the killing, but has been released on bail.

A judge said that he admitted to kicking Jonny K., had agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation, and that there was no likelihood that he would flee. State prosecutors immediately appealed against the decision.

The Local/bk

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BERLIN

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Farmers in Germany launched fresh protests in Berlin on Friday to call for the government to support agriculture, resulting in disruption across the city.

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Berlin police said there were “considerable traffic disruptions” across the city and the outskirts and especially around Straße des 17. Juni, the government district and the Bundesrat .

Since Thursday morning, Straße des 17. Juni and other streets around the government district in Berlin-Tiergarten have been closed. There will also be closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz through Friday.

A planned rally is due to take place from 12 noon to 5pm on Friday with tractors and lorries around Platz des 18. März, near Brandenburg Gate. 

The action is being held to protest the government’s agricultural policies.

It comes as relief measures – including reduced bureaucracy and tax relief for farmers – went to the Bundesrat on Friday to be voted on as part of the Growth Opportunities Act.

However, farmers are still pushing for their original demand of fully keeping the agricultural diesel subsidy.

READ ALSO: Analysis: Why are German farmers so angry?

Farmers in Germany have been staging similar protests against the policies of the government since the start of the year.

Where are protests taking place?

Here’s a look at the routes farmers are expected to take in Friday into Berlin where disruption will occur:

Frohnau: From the state border via B96 Berliner Straße, Roedernallee, Lindauer Allee, Residenzstraße, Markstraße, Schulstraße, Luxemburger Straße, Föhrer Straße, An der Putlitzbrücke, Stromstraße, Lessingstraße, Altonaer Straße and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Lichtenrade: From the state border via the B96 Kirchhainer Damm to Tempelhofer Damm and then via Mehringdamm, Hallesches Ufer, Reichpietschufer, Klingelhöferstraße, Hofjägerallee and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Mahlsdorf: From the state border via the B1/5 to Alexanderstraße and then via Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Unter den Linden, Wilhelmstraße, Dorotheenstraße, Scheidemannstraße, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee, Spreeweg and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Staaken: From the state border via B5 Heerstraße to Theodor-Heuss-Platz, Kaiserdamm, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Straße des 17. Juni and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni.

As we’ve already. mentioned, there will also be road closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Carstensen

A large police presence was in place around the federal ministries and parliamentary buildings.

“We are taking preparatory measures before the farmers’ rally so that parliamentary work can take place smoothly on Friday,” said a spokesperson for the Berlin police on Thursday. 

During previous demonstrations, tactics – such as throwing manure and blockade attempts – have been controversial. 

On one occasion in January more than a hundred farmers blocked a ferry port as Economics Minister Robert Habeck tried to return from a holiday with his wife on the North Friesian island of Hooge.

According to media reports, some of the protestors tried to storm the ferry that the Habeck and his wife were on, preventing the Green Party politician from disembarking and forcing police to intervene. 

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