German Teen Released

Despite his release after eight months in prison, 17-year-old Marco W. will still face charges of sexually abusing a 13-year-old British girl during their Easter vacation in the Turkish resort of Antalya. The court ruled that Marco could return to Germany, setting no bail conditions. The trial is set to continue on April 1.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the decision to release the teen.

"I'm glad that Marco is free for now and can return home," Merkel said.

Hours before the court ruled to release Marco, his lawyers said they had made formal application to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg for him to be freed.

Wrongful release?

A lawyer for the girl said on Friday, Dec. 14, that he would appeal the decision to release Marco, saying that evidence presented to court showed that he should stay in prison. The lawyer is calling for the German teen to be sentenced for raping the girl.

Turkish prosecutors had said they would demand the maximum sentence of 15 years for rape, reduced to 10 in the case of a minor.

Marco has denied abusing the girl. He claims that she consented to mutual caressing and told him that she was 15 years old.

International row

German officials have criticized the delays in bringing Marco to trial, with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussing the issue with senior Turkish officials in Brussels in June.

The full version of the alleged victim's testimony was presented translated into Turkish to the court only last month.

Turkish officials have expressed anger at what they have seen as an attempt to influence the judicial process.