Start of the process in Cologne: abuse allegations against children’s photographer – Rhineland – news
At the beginning of the hearing, the accused remains silent. The public prosecutor’s office accuses the photographer, who has been in custody for months, of having severely sexually abused some of his models. In addition, Lippoth possessed child pornography material, according to the indictment.
The victims are said to have been boys between the ages of seven and 13, according to a spokesman for the Cologne district court. The children met the photographer in connection with his work. Some of the children were asleep during the crimes and therefore could not defend themselves.
Prosecutors say the alleged crimes occurred between 1999 and the summer of 2017 or 2018. Crime scenes are said to have included Cologne, the USA and the Mediterranean region. With some of the mothers of the alleged abuse victims, Lippoth is said to be in “family-like associationsAccording to the indictment, he exploited his role. In June 2021, during a house search, investigators also found a child pornographic recording on the accused’s cloud storage.
Some proceedings against child photographer Achim Lippoth have already been discontinued
Lippoth is also represented by a Cologne law firm in media law. on WDR-Request made to a lawyer in the law firm and speaks in connection with the allegations made of “…a result of a highly unfair and suggestive investigation. The approach of the criminal police reveals a lot about deep-seated prejudices and an incomprehensible, blind zeal for the hunt.“And further:”The defense is optimistic that it will be able to bring the true facts closer to the court in an objective trial.”
Judicial circles have learned that several investigations have already been initiated against the man. However, the Cologne public prosecutor’s office discontinued the proceedings. To WDR-Information was done by paragraph 170, paragraph 2. Accordingly, the attitude took place because there were no indications that would justify further persecution.
The provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure states:”…The public prosecutor’s office can discontinue the preliminary investigation against an accused IF, in their opinion, the investigation does not offer sufficient grounds for filing a complaint.“It’s different now.
Complaint against Achim Lippoth’s custody dismissed
Lippoth’s defense attorney had tried twice to get her client out of the wave of investigations. But the Higher Regional Court also rejected the application for a complaint.
Abuse crime scene also an apartment in Cologne
A crime scene, i.e. the indictment, was the Cologne Uni-Center. A skyscraper in which the photographer had an apartment. At the start of the trial, the defense said that the investigation did not want the truth to be revealed in the case. A judgment is planned for the end of September.
“I’m dismayed, I’m appalled“
Die Zeit journalists researched the case in more detail. Lena Niethammer said that WDR: “It was particularly perfidious for us that Achim Lippoth himself shot campaigns against child abuse as a photographer.”
This includes the club innocence at risk. He campaigns against sexual abuse and used photos of Lippoth. Managing director Julia von Weiler said that WDR: “I am dismayed, of course I am appalled. And on the other hand, unfortunately not at all surprised, because it is a very typical strategy for perpetrators to infiltrate child protection organizations or such campaigns in order to present themselves with a completely clean slate.”