A neighbour from hell suspected of throwing acid over a pair of new parents angry about a pram left behind in the corridor of a flat has appeared in court.
The pensioner, only identified as 64-year-old Gottfried W, appeared yesterday in a court in Duisburg in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia facing charges of grievous bodily harm.
Last May, he allegedly threw a corrosive liquid over his neighbours in a flat in the city of Muellheim.
Gottfried W had been arguing with the couple over a pram left in the corridor, according to local media.
The victims, named only as 29-year-old Gerrit K (right) and 35-year-old Maria R. (left), are pictured with horrific acid burns after the shocking incident
The pensioner then allegedly went back into his flat before returning and throwing acid over the victims, who were named as 29-year-old Gerrit K and 35-year-old Maria R.
The state prosecutor said: ‘There [in his flat] he took a 94 percent sulphuric acid out of the kitchen cabinet and threw it in the direction of the witnesses.’
Both victims suffered severe burns.
Another neighbour took them into his flat and put them under the shower while he called an ambulance.
The pensioner, only identified as 64-year-old Gottfried W, appeared yesterday in court facing charges of grievous bodily harm
The pair were rushed to hospital where they were both treated for injuries that will leave them with permanent scars.
The prosecutor said: ‘They must deal with lasting scars.’
Gerrit K ended up with acid in his eye which could lead to him being partially blind.
He said: ‘There has been stress for months, because the child’s pram stands in the hall.
‘He had already broken two buggies.’
Gottfried W, who worked as a painter and varnisher before his retirement, knew how much damage the acid could do, according to the prosecution.
One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said about Gottfried W: ‘Hopefully we won’t see him ever again.
‘He had terrorised everyone here for months.’
Court spokesman Dr Matthias Breidenstein said: ‘In case of a conviction, the accused can expect up to 10 years in prison.’
The attacker had previously worked as a painter and varnisher and knew how much damage the acid could do, according to the prosecution