A man wrongfully convicted in Germany spent 13 years in prison, and now, after his release, the state is demanding that he repay nearly 100,000 euros for his food and housing during his incarceration.
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, in 2010, Manfred Henditzki was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. However, after 13 years, the court admitted a serious error and acquitted the 64-year-old man. Following years of fighting for his innocence, Henditzki was freed in July of last year.
Currently, Henditzki is seeking compensation from Bavaria for the time he spent behind bars — 750,000 euros. This claim goes beyond the compensation already paid for pain and suffering. By law, Henditzki is entitled to 75 euros for each day he was wrongfully imprisoned. With 4,916 days spent in custody, his compensation for pain and suffering amounted to 368,700 euros.
However, Henditzki and his lawyer expressed dissatisfaction with this sum, pointing out that he lost his job due to the conviction.
In contrast, the Munich public prosecutor recently sent Henditzki a bill for nearly 100,000 euros, which he is now required to pay for his time in prison. The prosecution argues that, over the course of 13 years, Henditzki “saved expenses” by living in a prison cell and receiving prison meals. Specifically, they claim he owes 50,442 euros for “housing and meals.”
Additionally, Henditzki worked in prison, earning two euros per hour. Over the 13 years, this amounted to 48,979 euros, according to the authorities. As a result, Henditzki now owes nearly 100,000 euros to the state.
Henditzki had been sentenced to life for the murder of an elderly woman in 2010. He was accused of drowning her in a bathtub after a quarrel while he worked as her caregiver. The case gained media attention as the so-called “bathroom murder.”
In April of last year, Henditzki and his lawyer succeeded in having the case reviewed. During the new proceedings, expert findings confirmed a later time of death for the elderly woman. Henditzki was no longer in the apartment at that time, and the woman’s death was likely an accident.
