Blog

Articles on criminal law, defense strategies and recent case law in Germany.

6 July 2026

Manslaughter (§ 212 StGB) – Elements, Distinction from Murder and Defense

In brief: Manslaughter under § 212 StGB is the intentional killing of a person without any murder characteristic. The range runs from five to fifteen…

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3 July 2026

Robbery-Type Extortion (§ 255 StGB) – Distinction from Robbery, Elements and Defense

In brief: Robbery-type extortion under § 255 StGB is an extortion (§ 253) committed with force against a person or a threat of present danger…

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1 July 2026

Aggravated Robbery (§ 250 StGB) – Qualified Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Aggravated robbery under § 250 StGB is a qualification of robbery (§ 249) and a felony with a high minimum sentence: not less…

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29 June 2026

Robbery (§ 249 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Robbery under § 249 StGB is a felony with a minimum sentence of one year. It combines a taking (as in theft) with…

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26 June 2026

Resisting Law Enforcement Officers (§ 113 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Resisting law enforcement officers under § 113 StGB – offering resistance to an enforcement act by force or by threatening force – is…

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24 June 2026

Embezzlement (§ 246 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Embezzlement under § 246 StGB is committed by whoever unlawfully appropriates a movable object belonging to another that is already in their possession.…

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22 June 2026

Aggravated Assault (§ 224 StGB) – Dangerous Means, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Aggravated assault under § 224 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) is punishable by six months to ten years of imprisonment (three months…

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19 June 2026

Drug Offences under the Narcotics Act (§ 29 BtMG) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: § 29 BtMG penalizes the unlawful handling of narcotics – possession, acquisition, trafficking, importation, supply – with up to five years of imprisonment…

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17 June 2026

Fare Evasion (§ 265a StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Fare evasion and other forms of “obtaining services by deception” under § 265a StGB – above all travelling without a valid ticket –…

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15 June 2026

Coercion (§ 240 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense

In brief: Coercion under § 240 StGB is committed by whoever unlawfully compels another person, by force or by threatening an appreciable harm, to an…

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