Schlusswort (nonfiction)

Schlusswort (German: "final word") is a principle in German law which allows convicted criminals to deliver a final word in court after their sentencing; this right is typically waived or used to deliver a few words of apology and remorse.

Michael Jauernik incident

After being sentenced to twelve years in prison for bank robbery, Michael Jauernik used his final word to speak for five solid days.

The speech included sharp criticisms of his counsel and the police investigators, as well as boasts about Jauernik's own legal expertise. Jauernik already served lengthy sentences for bank robberies in the 1970s and 1980s.

• German bank robber staged a 5-day fillibuster with his legally guaranteed right to a post-sentencing "final word" @ Boing Boing
• Convicted bank robber makes 5-day closing speech to court @ CNN

Fiction cross-reference

• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

External links

• [] @ Wikipedia