BERLIN (JTA) — The mother of a Jewish man who was killed under unexplained circumstances in Wiesbaden eight years ago says German prosecutors are dragging their feet in the investigation.
Erica Duggan of England returned March 28 to the site of her son Jeremiah’s death to deliver a plea to prosecutor Christiane Schick-Jensen to interview witnesses and bring closure to the case.
"I am very disappointed that I have come all this way and that she hasn’t found a moment to see me," Duggan told JTA.
Meanwhile, Duggan’s attorney has lodged a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights alleging that the German court has failed to properly investigate the case.
Jeremiah Duggan, 22, died March 27, 2003 after attending an anti-war meeting of the LaRouche Schiller Institute in Wiesbaden. Jeremiah reportedly was terrorized by followers of the institute after he objected to statements blaming the Iraq war on Jews and identified himself as Jewish.
He fled into busy traffic and reportedly was hit several times by oncoming vehicles, but Erica Duggan contends that her son was under attack at the time of his death.
In her open letter to Schick-Jensen, Duggan claims witnesses who might shed light on the case have not been interviewed.
Her Berlin-based attorneys say Schick-Jensen has not responded to their queries for two years. Attorney Christian Noll told JTA it was "very unusual" for a prosecutor to refuse to speak with a family member or attorney.
"I hope the European Court will agree that the investigation is deeply flawed and incomplete," he said, adding that such a confirmation would not force the court to act but would put pressure on it to act.
Duggan said she had "gathered up all the memories of [Jeremiah] and will bring them home for good."
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