Doctor acquitted after death of sex partner
Published: Friday, Dec 8th 2023, 09:00
Updated At: Friday, Dec 8th 2023, 09:01
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The St. Gallen cantonal court has acquitted a 58-year-old doctor of charges of involuntary manslaughter and failure to provide emergency assistance. The trial came about after the death of his sexual partner. The verdict published on Friday is not yet legally binding.
In its written decision, the cantonal court dismissed the private plaintiffs' appeal and confirmed the judgment of the lower court.
The trial dealt with the question of whether the doctor was to blame for the death of his partner. The 58-year-old head physician and the 32-year-old female doctor had entered into a sexual relationship in spring 2015. In August, they had arranged to meet in the man's apartment. Seven hours later, the doctor alerted the police because the woman had died.
Before the cantonal court, the doctor declared that he had nothing to do with the woman's death. There had been no rough sex games. At some point the woman had got up to smoke. When he woke up later, he discovered her bent over a parapet. She was already dead by then.
The legal representative of the woman's relatives argued that the doctor had covered his tracks before calling the police. Sex toys had been put away, glasses had been washed and the apartment had been cleaned. Only the defendant could be responsible for injuries to the woman's body.
Expert opinion supported defense
The defense relied on an expert opinion and argued that the woman had suffered a collapse, then slumped over a parapet and died. The woman had only suffered minor injuries.
The doctor was acquitted at first instance in March 2021. The single judge had found the doctor's testimony to be credible. The woman's relatives did not accept this decision and, unlike the public prosecutor, took the case further.
In its written judgment, the cantonal court has now also come to an acquittal. The private plaintiffs will be charged around CHF 22,000 for the costs of the proceedings and compensation for the doctor's lawyer.
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