Influencer Sentenced to Six Months Probation for New Year's Rocket Incident

A 23-year-old social media influencer has been handed a six-month probation sentence after being found guilty of property damage for shooting a firework into a Berlin apartment during New Year's celebrations. The Berlin District Court determined that while the influencer was guilty of property damage, charges of attempted arson and attempted bodily harm were not substantiated.

The court's ruling came after the influencer was detained at Berlin's Brandenburg Airport on January 4 while attempting to leave Germany. Following more than three months in pre-trial detention, the court lifted the arrest warrant against him, allowing his release.

During the trial, the prosecution had sought a two-year probation sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges, which included attempted severe arson. However, the court ultimately aligned more closely with the defense's argument. The influencer expressed remorse for his actions, claiming it was an accident and that he believed the firework would launch into the sky. His legal representative stated that the incident was not intentional.

The influencer, who boasts over 310,000 followers on Instagram, had posted a video of the incident that garnered more than six million views before it was deleted after 36 hours. Despite the removal, the footage continued to circulate on social media, prompting widespread condemnation from viewers. In a subsequent post, the influencer apologized to those affected by his actions.

During the trial, a resident of the apartment where the firework was shot shared his account, noting that the influencer had apologized in front of several friends shortly after the incident. The resident indicated that he forgave the influencer, stating that he did not perceive the act as intentional and that such mistakes can happen to anyone.