In dubio pro reo? Here are the stories of three victims of injustice from Austria, Germany, and the USA who shared the same fate: they were declared murderers, convicted, and imprisoned – even though they were innocent. A jogger whose statement was used against him. A mentally ill woman who confessed under the influence of medication. A young soldier who could no longer withstand the pressure from investigators.
Sebastian T. from Germany: The Ice Cellar Case
On March 19, 2024, Sebastian T. was sentenced to nine years in prison for the murder of 23-year-old medical student Hanna W.
What happened?
On the night of October 3, 2022, Hanna W. died after a night of partying at the club „Eiskeller“ in Aschau im Chiemgau.
Her body was found in a river about nine kilometers away late that afternoon. She was partially clothed and had sustained several severe injuries, including extensive abrasions on her body and head injuries. When Hanna disappears, a male jogger is seen in the vicinity and is subsequently asked to come forward in a public appeal. Sebastian T., who was training for a half marathon and enjoyed running at night, reported to the police with a clear conscience.
The investigation
Sebastian T. testifies to the police, even though he didn't see anything suspicious. During the interrogation, the officers ask him to imagine how Hanna could have been killed. Sebastian T. speculates that perhaps she was attacked by a driver and then struck on the head with a rock. The police interpret this statement as knowledge of a perpetrator.
The officials assumed that Sebastian T. had gone for another run after his first one ended and had attacked Hanna W. at the crime scene. However, there is no evidence whatsoever for this second run – no security camera footage, no witnesses. On the contrary: Sebastian's phone data shows that he played a mobile game at home after his run. A subsequent search of his belongings also yielded nothing that could have connected him to Hanna. Nevertheless, the police officers continued to assume that Sebastian had attacked Hanna, undressed her, and then thrown her into the nearby Bärbach stream.
Small side note: According to the expert report, Hanna was supposed to be about 20 cm taller and 10 kg heavier than Sebastian.
Most recently there was still a cellmate, who stated that Sebastian T. had confessed the crime to him in custody. However, his statement remained vague. The man also had a history of mental health problems, including several false statements in the past.
Nevertheless, the court sentenced Sebastian T. to nine years in prison, partly based on this questionable testimony.
The truth
After the proceedings were resumed, the suspected actual course of events could be reconstructed. According to this, Hanna, heavily intoxicated that October night, fell into the Bärbach, which takes on wild characteristics at this time of year. She screamed once, which was heard by a witness. Since she was also wearing heavy winter clothing, she presumably took it off herself to save herself. Due to the strong current and the nine kilometers she was carried, it is to be assumed that this is how the severe abrasions and head injuries occurred. The expert report also confirmed that the cause of her death was drowning. It also emerged that the presiding judge and the public prosecutor's office had coordinated during the trial. Behavior that is strictly prohibited.
The Federal Court of Justice ultimately overturned the verdict. Sebastian T. was acquitted in November 2025. The judge apologized. Nevertheless, no one can give him back the 945 days he spent in prison.
Sandra Hemme from the USA: Four decades in prison, innocent
In 1980, Sandra Hemme was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a library employee in St. Joseph, Missouri. Sandra had pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
What happened?
On November 13, 1980, 31-year-old secretary Patricia Jeschke was found dead in her bedroom after failing to show up for work. Patricia Jeschke's hands were tied, and she had head injuries. She had apparently been strangled with a pair of pantyhose. Police found two black hairs at the crime scene, as well as two pieces of cut antenna wire next to her body.
The investigation
The fact is that Jeschke left work around 5 PM on November 12, 1980, to go to a church event. She was seen by a witness in a white sports car in downtown St. Joseph. Additionally, other witnesses saw a white car in front of her apartment that same evening. Thirteen days later, a nurse called the police because a former patient was in her house with a knife. When the police arrived, they found Sandra Hemme, then 20 years old, hiding in a closet. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Sandra was marked by a past with psychological problems. The police interrogation took place in the psychiatric hospital while Sandra was being treated with antipsychotic medication. These were so strong that her lawyers stated she was at times unable to even hold her head up. Furthermore, she was allegedly tied to a chair. During her interrogation, she made contradictory statements and was classified as mentally confused.
The truth
After 43 years in prison, the responsible district judge ruled that it no evidence The only evidence against Sandra was her unreliable statements, which were made during psychiatric distress and while experiencing physical pain. A direct connection was established to a local police officer for Jeschke's murder, who was convicted of another crime and has since passed away.
Sandra's conviction resulted in the longest wrongful prison sentence for a woman in the USA. She has now been free since 2024 and is over 60 years old.
Peter Heidegger from Austria: The Taxi Murder
In 1993, Peter Heidegger was accused of murdering 28-year-old taxi driver Claudia Deubler from Salzburg in Wals. He allegedly shot and robbed her.
The investigation
Just two days after the murder, 19-year-old soldier Peter Heidegger was arrested, as two witnesses had testified they saw him near the crime scene at the time of the act. Heidegger confessed to the crime a total of five times. However, he retracted his confession 15 days later. His reasoning: he had been pressured by the investigators. Nevertheless, based on his confession and the witness testimonies, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and aggravated robbery in Krems an der Donau.
The truth
Heidegger's trial was resumed in 2001.. The jury unanimously agreed that he had not committed the offense, which led to his acquittal. In the course of this, six officers from the Salzburg Criminal Investigation Department were charged with suspicion of abuse of office. It turned out that the investigators behaved very domineeringly and one-sidedly during Heidegger's interrogation and put him under massive pressure. For example, they claimed to have found his hair in the taxi. They also deprived him of sleep by keeping him awake all night with bright lighting.
Finally, Peter Heidegger confessed to the murder to put an end to the harsh interrogations. Only when he realized the consequences this would have for him and that the truth was no longer being sought did he finally retract his confession. The false confession, false testimonies, suppression of evidence, and forgery of documents ultimately led to his mistaken conviction.
In 2004, Peter Heidegger received compensation of 950,000 euros. His prison sentence resulted in 2865 days of imprisonment. Thus, the taxi murder is one of the longest wrongful imprisonment cases in Austrian judicial history.
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