Was the ex-president of Eintracht Frankfurt killed?
Photo from 2000: the then Frankfurt President Rolf Heller
Those: pa/dpa/Stephanie_Pilick
Eintracht Frankfurt’s former president Rolf Heller died seven weeks ago. Was the death helped? The public prosecutor’s office is investigating a possible homicide. The widow’s lawyer defends himself against accusations.
AOn October 23, the former president of Eintracht Frankfurt Rolf Heller died at the age of 78. As the club announced at the time, he had died “after a long, serious illness”. Eintracht organized its own commemoration with 150 participants because the club had been invited to the official funeral service, as Heller’s successor Peter Fischer reported.
But now there are serious doubts that an illness was the cause of death. The public prosecutor’s office in Erfurt, which took over the case because Heller lived in Weimar, a 30-minute drive away, before his death, is investigating a possible homicide (murder or manslaughter). The Hessian broadcaster reported first.
Commemoration in the stadium: Rolf Heller led Eintracht Frankfurt through difficult times as president
Credit: pa/Dennis Ewert/RHR PHOTO
According to this, two people are being investigated, but a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office did not provide any information on their identity. The widow’s lawyer publicly denied allegations that his client had anything to do with the death. The woman loved her husband more than anything and did not kill him. He believes “under no circumstances”, explained Norbert Dotterweich. The presumption of innocence applies until convicted.
Relatives reported to the police
The case got rolling because relatives of Hellers had contacted the police a week after the death. In the subsequent autopsy of the body, evidence of external influence was found. An investigation was then initiated. However, there are still no arrest warrants for the suspects, the witness interviews and evidence collection are still ongoing.
Heller took over the presidency in 1996 after Eintracht was relegated to the Bundesliga for the first time. He led the club through years of sporting and economic turbulence. In 1998, the Hessians were promoted back to the highest German division and celebrated relegation a year later. In 2000, Heller resigned from his position. With treasurer Gaetano Patella (80) and managing director Klaus Loetzbeier (81), he had previously saved the club from being taken over by foreign investors. The Ultras were also founded during his term of office (1997).
