Trial in Essen: Four Germans charged over alleged incident in Mallorca

Four defendants from Germany on trial after incident in Mallorca

What began as a boisterous group trip has now had serious consequences for all involved: Juicio en Essen: cuatro alemanes por presunto delito en Mallorca is underway at the Essen Regional Court since Tuesday.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred at the end of August 2024 in a hotel in El Arenal. The alleged victim, a 41-year-old man, had been heavily intoxicated after a night out together at bars on the Playa and had apparently withdrawn to his room alone. Shortly afterwards, four friends are said to have gained access to his room.

Confessions and silence

Three of the accused admitted parts of the allegations at the start of the trial. One defendant remained silent on the charges. According to investigators, the men come from the Ruhr area—named locations include Dorsten and Gelsenkirchen—and are between 18 and 50 years old. A 37-year-old is being investigated as the main defendant.

The public prosecutor alleges that they inserted a plastic bottle filled with water into the clearly intoxicated friend's anus. Parts of the group are said to have filmed the incident. Such allegations are serious crimes, which are regarded as particularly grave in both countries—Spain and Germany, as discussed in