Schertz Bergmann, representing Till Lindemann, has effectively barred Der Spiegel, a German news outlet, from continuing to report on accusations levelled against RAMMSTEIN frontman. As per the statement from Schertz Bergmann, the Hamburg Regional Court has indicated a deficiency in the requisite minimum proof to substantiate such grave suspicions. The Court also expressed that such reports prematurely paint Lindemann as guilty, even as investigations are still in progress.
The following statement from Schertz Bergmann reads as follows, as translated from German:
“On the cover of its edition dated June 10, 2023 (Issue No. 24/2023), SPIEGEL reported under the headline ‘Twilight of the Gods’ about allegations made by various women. The article was also published online under the title ‘Sex, Power, Alcohol – What the young women from Row Zero report’ in the SPIEGEL+ subscription section.
“By interim injunction of the Hamburg Regional Court dated July 14, 2023, SPIEGEL has now been prohibited from suggesting that Till Lindemann drugged or had women drugged with knockout drops/drugs/alcohol during concerts of the group ‘Rammstein‘ to enable him to perform sexual acts on the women. In the grounds of the decision, the Hamburg Regional Court states that there is a lack of the necessary minimum evidence for this serious suspicion.
“Specifically, it states: ‘None of the statements of the witnesses, who have made their statements under oath or to the authors of the applicant (cf. affidavits of the authors of the applicant …), give rise to the suspicion that the applicant drugged or had women drugged with knockout drops/alcohol/drugs at concerts to enable him to perform sexual acts on the women.’
“The reference to the insufficient affidavits of the alleged witnesses is particularly relevant because SPIEGEL based its reporting prominently on alleged conversations with a dozen women and also on the signing of several affidavits. With the decision of the Hamburg Regional Court, the most serious allegation made in the contested SPIEGEL article has been legally prohibited.
“In addition, SPIEGEL has been prohibited from making two false factual claims. The court’s injunction covers 18 partially long passages of the article, which are reproduced in detail on 6 pages of the interim injunction.
“The decision of the Hamburg Regional Court is exemplary of a suspicion reporting on the ‘MeToo’ topic that has completely gone off track in recent times. Aware that reporting on this topic ensures high sales and online views, the media increasingly ignore the guidelines established by the case law for suspicion reporting. Again and again, serious allegations are reported even though only one-sided statements are available and criminal investigations have not been initiated or are still at an early stage. This leads to massive pre-judgements and violations of the presumption of innocence as provided by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
“To the extent that the suspicion prohibited to SPIEGEL has also been raised by other media, we will take legal action against them as well.”
Public outrage against the band escalated over the weekend, with hundreds protesting a RAMMSTEIN concert in Germany, responding to the ongoing investigation into previous sexual assault claims involving Lindemann by Berlin’s public prosecutor’s office.
“Preliminary proceedings have been initiated against Till Lindemann, on allegations relating to sexual offences and the distribution of narcotics,” a spokeswoman for the Berlin public prosecution’s office said in a statement.
According to the AFP news agency, the investigation into Till Lindemann‘s alleged sexual assault is being carried out by Berlin prosecutors, who initiated it themselves and also based it on several criminal complaints filed by third parties who were not directly involved in the incidents.
The recent scandal involving RAMMSTEIN emerged when accusations of abuse were leveled against Till Lindemann. Young female fans claimed that they were handpicked by a Russian “casting director” named Alena Makeeva to attend exclusive parties with the band, particularly Lindemann. These women alleged that they were groomed and sexually assaulted by Lindemann at these events, with some also accusing him of drugging their drinks.
