News
Judge Gives Witness Alcohol in Court
- 18th July 2012
In a court first, a judge in Germany gave a witness alcohol so that he could continue to testify.
According to The Daily Mail, a judge in Germany got a court official to go to the off licence to pick up two bottles of 40 per cent German brandy after withdrawal symptoms started to affect a homeless alcoholic’s memory at a murder trial.
The witness, Miroslav Waldchek, was allowed to go to an adjoining room to drink the brandy, before returning to testify. 'I am mightily grateful your honour,' said Mr Waldchek after receiving the brandy and returning to the court room “somewhat refreshed”.
Marcin Raminski, a lawyer for the accused, said: 'It should not be allowed that courts, at state expense and during a hearing, administer alcohol. Will it soon be the case that drug-addicted witnesses will be offered heroin on the stand?'
The judge, Frank Rosenow, retorted, ‘It was not ordered that the witness drink alcohol. I created circumstances under which the witness had the opportunity to take alcohol for his and the court's benefit.’
In an unfortunate twist, not soon after Mr Waldcheck had to be rushed to hospital when the alcohol clashed with the pain killers he was taking.
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