The 29-year-old Turkish national Mert K. has been sentenced to six years for grievous bodily harm resulting in death, after attacking elderly German man Friedrich K. over dirt under a washing machine in the laundry room of their apartment building. 

The accused and his family were reportedly set to move from the building, where they had lived for over a year and where there had been frequent arguments with Friedrich K.

According to prosecutor Sven Reiss, “the defendant suddenly struck the victim with full force – presumably with his fist – in the right jaw area” after an argument broke out over a layer of dirt under one of the machines.  

Although an article in Bild from March mentions no nationality of the accused, one social media account has reported that he is a Turkish citizen. Furthermore, Mert is a popular name for males in Turkey.

The incident took place last September, when Mert K. punched his 78-year-old neighbor while doing laundry in their building in Stuttgart. Apparently, an argument had broken out over dirt under one of the machines. Friedrich K. fell to the ground with severe head injuries. The retiree died 12 days later in the hospital.  

The Turkish man is reported to have had 11 prior convictions on his record, including four assault charges. When he attacked Friedrich K., he was reportedly on probation and had failed to attend his court-ordered anti-aggression course and educational counseling sessions. 

Mert K. defended his actions, telling the court that he was only acting in self-defense, a story that the judge rejected.

Friedrich K. was found on the ground with a severe head injury by witnesses, after which Mert K. allegedly fled. Emergency services were called and took the elderly neighbor to the hospital where he succumbed to his injury less than two weeks later.