Emotional scenes as trial opens in Zweibrücken for fatal attack on train conductor Serkan Çalar
The trial of Ioanni V., accused of causing the death of Deutsche Bahn conductor Serkan Çalar in February, opened in Zweibrücken on Wednesday with the defendant apologising and a video of the attack shown in court.
The attack
On 2 February 2026, conductor Serkan Çalar, 36, was checking tickets on regional train RE 4131 from Landstuhl to Homburg when he asked a passenger to show his ticket. The passenger, Ioanni V., 26, had no ticket and refused to identify himself. Told to leave the train, he reportedly said "I'm a boxer. I'm a fighter" and struck Çalar multiple times in the head and chest. Çalar lost consciousness and died two days later in hospital from a brain haemorrhage.
The defendant and charges
Prosecutors sought a murder charge but the court in Zweibrücken did not admit it, citing lack of evidence of intent to kill. Ioanni V. is instead charged with bodily injury resulting in death, which carries 3 to 15 years in prison. On the first day, he admitted to attacking Çalar but said he did not intend to kill him. He told the court he had psychological problems since 2021 and smoked marijuana regularly. Through his lawyer, he expressed remorse.
If I could turn back time, I would change everything.
First day of trial
The trial opened on Wednesday at the Landgericht Zweibrücken with heavy security and limited seating for 50 people, 20 reserved for press. The defendant's personal statement lasted around one and a half hours. The victim's family held up large photos of Çalar throughout the hearing. His brother, Eray Çalar, said before the proceedings that no verdict could bring Serkan back, but they wanted to show he was present.
His soul is here.
Video evidence and courtroom turmoil
The court then showed the silent surveillance video of the attack. It captured the rapid, hard punches to Çalar's chin, chest and head, and him collapsing unconscious. During the screening, a spectator shouted an insult and several family members sobbed and left the room. The judge ordered the disruptive spectator removed, fined him, and banned him from the trial. A court official threatened to use a baton to restore order.
Safety debate and wider context
The case drew nationwide attention to the safety of railway staff. Many colleagues of Çalar attended the trial. According to government figures cited in court, there were about 2,690 recorded attacks on Deutsche Bahn employees in 2025, an increase of around 11 percent compared to the previous year. The side plaintiff's lawyer, Yalçin Tekinoglu, said the trial should send a signal against violence, especially towards public service workers. The trial is scheduled to run for seven more sessions until early July.
