German comic acquitted of Zurich rape charges
German comedian and TV personality Karl Dall threatened to jump in Lake Zurich on Wednesday to celebrate his acquittal in a rape case brought against him by a Swiss journalist and photographer.
A Zurich district court on Tuesday found the married 73-year-old innocent of charges alleged by the 43-year-old woman from Solothurn.
The court found there was insufficient evidence to lead to a conviction after the journalist alleged she was sexually violated by Dall on the night of September 5th 2013 at the Renaissance Tower Hotel in Zurich West.
The pair knew each other because the woman had interviewed the comedian by phone and subsequently exchanged emails, Tages Anzeiger reported.
Dall appeared on a Swiss television show on September 5th after which he met the journalist in a bar before going to Dall’s hotel suite where they watched the recorded programme together.
They then went in her car to the Zurich casino where she dropped him off.
But the woman waited outside for three hours after which she drove him back to his hotel at around 3am.
The woman alleged that Dall invited her to stay with him.
She said she agreed because she was too tired to go home, Tages Anzeiger said.
The woman then maintains she was raped although Dall told the German newspaper Bild: “There was no sexual intercourse, and there was no violence.”
The court found the woman’s evidence was “designed” and “rehearsed”, as well as inconsistent.
It concluded that with her allegations she was taking her revenge on Dall for resisting her advances, Tages Anzeiger reported.
Dall meanwhile testified of prostate surgery he had received, which led to “certain limitations sexually”, the newspaper said.
The comedian said he was happy with the court’s verdict.
“I enjoy this acquittal,” he told media afterward.
The prosecution had sought a two-year prison term against Dall.
Instead, the court awarded him 60,000 francs to cover his legal costs, plus 10,000 francs for the harm done to his reputation.
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A Zurich district court on Tuesday found the married 73-year-old innocent of charges alleged by the 43-year-old woman from Solothurn.
The court found there was insufficient evidence to lead to a conviction after the journalist alleged she was sexually violated by Dall on the night of September 5th 2013 at the Renaissance Tower Hotel in Zurich West.
The pair knew each other because the woman had interviewed the comedian by phone and subsequently exchanged emails, Tages Anzeiger reported.
Dall appeared on a Swiss television show on September 5th after which he met the journalist in a bar before going to Dall’s hotel suite where they watched the recorded programme together.
They then went in her car to the Zurich casino where she dropped him off.
But the woman waited outside for three hours after which she drove him back to his hotel at around 3am.
The woman alleged that Dall invited her to stay with him.
She said she agreed because she was too tired to go home, Tages Anzeiger said.
The woman then maintains she was raped although Dall told the German newspaper Bild: “There was no sexual intercourse, and there was no violence.”
The court found the woman’s evidence was “designed” and “rehearsed”, as well as inconsistent.
It concluded that with her allegations she was taking her revenge on Dall for resisting her advances, Tages Anzeiger reported.
Dall meanwhile testified of prostate surgery he had received, which led to “certain limitations sexually”, the newspaper said.
The comedian said he was happy with the court’s verdict.
“I enjoy this acquittal,” he told media afterward.
The prosecution had sought a two-year prison term against Dall.
Instead, the court awarded him 60,000 francs to cover his legal costs, plus 10,000 francs for the harm done to his reputation.
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