Jens Lehmann Faces Court Over DUI Incident

The former German national football goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann, has appeared in court regarding charges stemming from an incident where he was found driving under the influence of alcohol after attending the Oktoberfest. During his testimony at the Munich District Court, Lehmann admitted to consuming alcohol that evening but insisted that he believed he was fit to drive.

Lehmann, 55, acknowledged that he had consumed two large beers and possibly a shandy, which is a beer diluted with lemonade or soda water. He expressed regret over his decision to drive, stating that he made a mistake. However, he contested the prosecution's claims that he exhibited signs of inebriation, such as slurred speech or erratic behavior. Instead, he maintained that he was simply coughing and not impaired in any way.

On the night of September 23, 2024, police stopped Lehmann after observing his driving. The prosecution reported that he was uncooperative with officers and displayed mood swings during the encounter. They noted that he had a slurred manner of speaking and a disjointed thought process. Additionally, it was alleged that he responded aggressively and inappropriately during the traffic stop, which he vehemently denied.

According to the prosecution, a subsequent blood test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was 0.72 percent, a level which exceeds the legal limit for driving in Germany. Lehmann's attorney indicated that they expect the resulting fine could be around 72,000 euros for the incident, which typically would be treated as a minor offense resulting in a fine of about 500 euros and two points on the driver's license.

This incident is not the first time Lehmann has faced legal troubles. He was previously convicted in a separate case involving property damage, where he was sentenced to pay a fine for causing damage with a chainsaw on a neighbor's property.