- Legal Basis
- § 224 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment from six months to ten years
- Summary
- Assault using a weapon, dangerous tool, by ambush, jointly with others, or by life-endangering treatment
Aggravated Assault under Section 224 of the German Criminal Code – Overview
Aggravated assault (gefährliche Assault) constitutes a qualified form of simple assault and carries significantly harsher penalties. Section 224 StGB covers assaults committed through particularly dangerous methods – such as using a weapon or dangerous instrument, by ambush, jointly with others, or through life-endangering treatment. The provision is classified as a serious criminal offence (Verbrechen) with a minimum sentence of six months.
Statutory Text (Section 224 StGB – Excerpt)
Subsection 1: Whoever commits bodily harm by means of a weapon or another dangerous instrument, by means of an ambush, jointly with another participant, or by means of treatment endangering life, shall be liable to imprisonment from six months to ten years.
Subsection 2: In less serious cases, the penalty is imprisonment from three months to five years.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
By Means of a Weapon or Dangerous Instrument
Weapons in the technical sense are objects designed to cause injuries (knives, firearms). A dangerous instrument is any object that, by its nature and the manner of its use, is capable of causing significant injuries. This may include: glass bottles, screwdrivers, belts, shoes (when kicking the head), or even a motor vehicle.
Ambush
An ambush requires the perpetrator to systematically conceal their true intentions in order to eliminate or complicate the victim’s ability to defend themselves.
Joint Commission
Joint commission requires at least two persons acting together at the scene, placing the victim in a particularly threatening situation. Co-perpetration is not required; conscious and deliberate support suffices.
Life-Endangering Treatment
Treatment endangering life exists where the act, under the specific circumstances, is capable of placing the victim’s life in danger. Typical examples: strangling, kicking a person lying on the ground in the head, poisoning.
Typical Methods of Commission
Commonly encountered scenarios include: knife attacks in nightlife, brawls involving beer glasses or bottles, group violence, attacks using motor vehicles, strangling attacks in domestic settings, and kicks to the head of persons lying on the ground.
Sentencing Range
Aggravated assault carries imprisonment from six months to ten years. In less serious cases, the sentence ranges from three months to five years. As this is a serious criminal offence (minimum sentence six months), discontinuation under Section 153a StPO is generally not available. A suspended sentence is only possible if the sentence does not exceed two years.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence typically focuses on: self-defence or excessive self-defence (Section 33 StGB), challenging the qualifying elements (e.g. no dangerous instrument, no joint commission), downgrading to simple assault by refuting the dangerous method of commission, challenging intent regarding the qualifying circumstances, establishing a less serious case through demonstrating special circumstances, and defending against exaggerated charges in mutual confrontations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was unterscheidet gefährliche von einfacher Assault?
Die gefährliche Assault (§ 224 StGB) erfasst qualifizierte Begehungsweisen, etwa mittels Waffe oder gefährlichen Werkzeugs, durch Gift, hinterlistigen Überfall, gemeinschaftlich mit einem anderen Beteiligten oder mittels lebensgefährdender Behandlung. Der Strafrahmen reicht von sechs Monaten bis zu zehn Jahren; verfolgt wird von Amts wegen, ein Strafantrag ist nicht nötig.
Ist ein Tritt mit dem Schuh ein gefährliches Werkzeug?
Die Rechtsprechung bejaht dies bei festem Schuhwerk und einem wuchtigen Tritt, verneint es aber im Einzelfall. Gerade diese Einordnung ist häufig umstritten und bietet einen zentralen Verteidigungsansatz, um eine Zurückstufung auf § 223 StGB zu erreichen.
Welche Verteidigungsmöglichkeiten bestehen?
Im Mittelpunkt stehen das Bestreiten der Qualifikation (Werkzeug, Gemeinschaftlichkeit, lebensgefährdende Behandlung), die Frage der Notwehr (§ 32 StGB) sowie Zweifel an der Verletzungsursache. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir, ob eine mildere Bewertung oder eine Einstellung erreichbar ist.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Aggravated Assault? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Aggravated Assault requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Mai 2026
Free Initial Assessment
Have you received a summons or are you under investigation? Call us – the initial assessment by phone is free for up to 10 minutes.
+49 228 504 463 36