The prevalence rate of wrongful convictions is unknown and difficult to estimate, as there is no current data on this. Furthermore, in most cases where a wrongful conviction might occur, it is very difficult to establish the guilt or innocence of a suspect beyond reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, there are some proven wrongful convictions in Germany. Since there is no database with all known cases, our aim is to build one. Through internet research we have found documented cases that you can find in this database. We are working on expanding the database and are looking forward to receiving new cases (with source references), which you are welcome to send us. We hope to add cases from other European countries to the database over the next few months.

Name	Land	Crime	Contributing factors	Zeitpunkt der (fraglichen) Tat	Conviction date	Acquittal date	Time incarcerated	Age	Besonderheiten	Wurde der/die wahre Täter/in gefunden?	References
Justine Heller	Germany	Arson	False confession	1813	1814	1827	10 years	15	Juvenile	No	Otto, H. D. (2003). Das Lexikon der Justizirrtürmer. Skandalöse Fälle, unschuldige Opfer, hartknäckige Ermittler. Ullstein Buchverlage.
Karola and Michael Lubitz	Germany	Abuse of the foster daughter	False confession	2006	2006	2010	1 year	Unknown	The confessions were made in order to get a reduced sentence.	There was no perpetrator.	Gehove Genios Justizfreund
Friedrich Berger	Germany	Murder	False confession, false witness statement	1834	1836	No acquittal	2 years, executed in 1938	Unknown	The suspect could neither read nor write. False statement by his wife. Police pressure during interrogation, suspect was very poor and hoped for more comfortable prison conditions by confessing.	Yes, in 1844 a sailor confesses to the murder. He still had objects belonging to the victim with him.	Otto, H. D. (2003). Das Lexikon der Justizirrtürmer. Skandalöse Fälle, unschuldige Opfer, hartknäckige Ermittler. Ullstein Buchverlage.
Johann Lettenbauer	Germany	Murder	False confession	1947	1947	1965	10 years incarcerated and 8 years in a care facility	65	There was a witness who saw two strangers at the time of the crime, but this testimony was disregarded.	Yes	Dieter Wunderlich Der Spiegel
Michael Mager	Germany	Murder	False confession	1983	1984	1996	6 years	22	Low IQ, police interrogation over 3 days, contradictions in the confession to the autopsy report, later it turned out that the suspect had an alibi.	Yes, Thomas Runge confessed the crime	Berliner Zeitung Taz Archiv
Wolfgang Schwertz	Germany	Murder	False confession	1989	No conviction			46		No	Der Spiegel
Ulvi Kulac "Peggy" case	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2004	2014	13 years in a psychiatric ward	24	Police pressure during interrogation, promise of leniency, low IQ	No	Jung, I. & Lemmer, C. (2013). Der Fall Peggy: Die Geschichte eines Skandals. Droemer.
Hermine Rupp	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2005	2011	8,5 years	46	Police pressure during interrogation, low IQ	No	Der Spiegel
Matthias E.	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2005	2011	8,5 years	19	Police pressure during interrogation, low IQ	No	Der Spiegel
Daughter Rupp 1	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2005	2011	3,5 years	16	Police pressure during interrogation, low IQ, juvenile	No	Der Spiegel
Daughter Rupp 2	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2005	2011	3,5 years	15	Police pressure during interrogation, low IQ, juvenile	No	Der Spiegel
Günther Kaufmann	Germany	Murder	False confession	2001	2002	2005	2,5 years	54	He confessed to the crime to protect his wife.	Yes	Otto, H. D. (2006). Im Namen des Irrtums! Fehlurteile in Mordprozessen. München: Herbig.
Norbert Kuß	Germany	Sexual Abuse	False accusation Erroneous Expert Witness Report	2001	2004	2013	2 years	Unknown		There was no perpetrator.	Süddeutsche Zeitung Urteil des OLG Saarbrücken Schmerzensgeld- und Schadensersatzanspruch bei unberechtigter Freiheitsentziehung
Horst Arnold	Germany	Rape	False accusation	2001	2002	2011	5 years	Unknown	The alleged victim was known to be a notorious liar.	There was no perpetrator.	Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Burow, P. (2013). Das Lexikon der Justizirrtümer. Eichborn Verlag.
Ralf Witte	Germany	Rape	Falsche Beschuldigung, Fehlerhaftes Glaubhaftigkeitsgutachten	2001	2004	2010	5 years	Unknown		There was no perpetrator.	Panorama Beitrag Webseite von Ralf Witte
Adolf S. “Amelie” case	Germany	Rape	False accusation Disregarded forensic evidence	1988-1994	1995	2006	7 years	Unknown		There was no perpetrator.	Rückert, S. (2008). Unrecht im Namen des Volkes. Wilhelm Goldman Verlag. Podcast Zeit Verbrechen (Folge 23)
Bernhard M. (Brother-in-law of Adolf S.) “Amelie” case	Germany	Rape	False accusation Disregarded forensic evidence		1996	2005	4,5 years	Unknown		There was no perpetrator.	Rückert, S. (2008). Unrecht im Namen des Volkes. Wilhelm Goldman Verlag. Podcast Zeit Verbrechen (Folge 23)
Martien Hunnik	Netherlands	Murder	False confession	1981	1983	2016	8 years	22	Police pressure	No	Hoge Raad 26. Mai 2015,ECLI:NL:HR:2015:1326; Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Steve H.	Netherlands	Murder	False accusation	1984	1986	1989	3 years	Unknown		Yes, his half-brother confessed the crime.	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Chris Klunder	Netherlands	Murder	Erroneous eyewitness testimony	1923	1926	1929	3 years	Unknown	Police pressure in witness interview	No	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Jan Theunissen	Netherlands	Murder	Erroneous eyewitness testimony	1923	1926	1929	3 years	Unknown	Police pressure in witness interview	No	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Rob van Zaane	Netherlands	Murder	False accusation, unreliable forensic evidence	1984	1987	1988	1 year	31		Yes, using new DNA techniques the two perpetrators were found. They were deceased.	P. ELberse en D. Nierop: "De Paskamermoord" (2003), ISBN 90-261-1926-7, Uitgeverij De Fontein.
Ina Post	Netherlands	Murder	False confession	1986	1987	2010	4 years	30		No	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Wilco Viets	Netherlands	Murder	False accusation	1994	1995	2002	7 years	24		Ja, anhand neue DNA Techniken.	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Herman Dubois	Netherlands	Murder	False accusation	1994	1995	2002	7 years	34		Yes, using new DNA techniques.	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Hendrik Wolters	Netherlands	Attempted manslaughter	Eyewitness testimony	1993	1994	2007	15 months	26	Eyewitnesses perjured themselves.	No	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Cees Borsboom	Netherlands	Rape and homicide	False confession	2000	2002	2005	4.5 Jahre	30	Police pressure	Yes, Wik H. confessed the crime in 2005.	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Lucia de Berk	Netherlands	Murder	Unreliable forensic evidence	2001	2003	2010	5 years	40		There was no perpetrator. The victims died of natural causes.	Koppen, P.J. van, ‘Rechterlijke dwalingen’, in: P.J. van Koppen e.a. (red.), Routes van het recht: Over de rechts- psychologie, Den Haag: Boom juridisch 2017, p. 883-916.
Andy (Kabes) Melaan	Bonaire, Niederlande	Murder	False accusation	2005	2006	2013	8 years	27		Yes, Macho Wanga confessed the crime.
Nozai Thomas	Bonaire, Niederlande	Murder	False accusation, false confession	2005	2006	2013	5 years	19	Police pressure	Yes, Macho Wanga confessed the crime.
Thomas Ewers	Germany	Rape	False accusation	1997-2001	2002	2014	6 Jahre 8 Monate			Die Tat hat nicht stattgefunden	https://www.wa.de/hamm/justizopfer-thomas-ewers-hamm-nach-zwoelf-jahren-rehabilitiert-freispruch-landgericht-essen-3666051.html
Herbert Becker	Germany	Rape	False accusation		2004	2012	7.5 Jahre			Die Tat hat nicht stattgefunden.	https://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/archiv/2012/panorama4189.pdf
Harry Wörz	Germany	Attempted manslaughter	Fehlerhafte/ einseitige Ermittlungen der Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaft	1997	1998	2010	4.5 Jahre		Im Zivilverfahren wurde 2001 die Klage auf Schmerzensgeld und Schadensersatz abgewiesen, da erhebliche Zweifel an der Schuld von Harry Wörz bestanden.	No	https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/freispruch-im-fall-harry-woerz-triumph-des-richters-a-656792.html