Defendant Kills Prosecutor in German Court

Posted January 11th, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
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German police say a defendant accused of embezzlement has shot and killed a prosecutor during his trial in southern Germany.

Police say the 54-year old man opened fire Wednesday afternoon in a court in Dachau, near Munich, while the judge was reading his verdict. He shot the prosecutor several times. There are no reports of other injuries.

General state prosecutor Christoph Stroetz confirmed that the victim died later Wednesday despite emergency surgery.

“Despite an immediate emergency surgery the state prosecutor died this afternoon. The state prosecution in

Munich has ordered in inquiry for murder.''

The suspected shooter was arrested and the prosecution ordered an investigation.

It is not clear what specific security measures the court had in place nor how the defendant managed to get inside with a gun.

The defendant was accused of embezzling tens thousands of dollars in employee contributions that should have gone to the German health care and pension system.