A 24-year-old employee is on trial in Limburg for causing the death of a customer after an altercation in a beverage store escalated.

The trial of a 24-year-old beverage store employee from Wetzlar began on Tuesday at the Limburg Regional Court. The employee is accused of causing bodily harm resulting in death after an incident in August 2025 in Löhnberg, Limburg-Weilburg. According to the prosecution, the employee attempted to remove a 56-year-old intoxicated customer from the store, leading to a physical altercation outside the premises. The customer sustained severe injuries, including a head trauma, and died 13 days later in the hospital.

The incident reportedly began with a dispute over a deposit receipt between the customer and a cashier. The customer allegedly insulted the cashier and later returned to the store in an intoxicated state, colliding with a greeting card stand upon entry. The employee, who had replaced the cashier at the register, processed the customer’s purchase before the store manager intervened to escort the customer out due to a house ban. The employee joined the situation at the entrance, intending to mediate, but the altercation escalated. Surveillance footage and a recorded emergency call were presented in court, along with testimonies from witnesses, including the victim’s daughter.

During the trial, the employee expressed remorse, stating that the outcome was unintended and that he remains deeply affected by the incident. He admitted to contacting police and emergency services immediately after the altercation. The prosecution alleges that the employee grabbed the customer by the throat and forcefully pushed him against the chest, causing the customer to fall and hit his head on the ground. The victim suffered a skull-brain trauma and was placed in a medically induced coma before succumbing to his injuries. The victim’s daughter testified about her father’s pre-existing health issues, including a prior brain hemorrhage and alcohol dependency, which may have contributed to his vulnerability. The trial is expected to continue until mid-December.