US Woman who fatally stabbed man after alleged sexual harassment in Germany avoids jail

An American woman who fatally stabbed a man at a railway station in Germany—claiming she acted after being sexually harassed—has been spared prison time, sparking anger from the victim’s family.

Fallyn Ball, 21, was facing up to ten years behind bars. However, the court ruled she was legally considered a juvenile under German law at the time of the incident, resulting in a reduced and suspended sentence.

Judges acknowledged that Ball initially acted in self-defence but later escalated the situation by advancing on the victim, Alem Tekeste, 64, and stabbing him fatally near an escalator at Kaiserslautern train station.

Tekeste, an Eritrean-born German citizen who had lived in the country since 1980, died within seconds from a single stab wound to the heart.

The case stirred public controversy in Germany, especially amid ongoing national debates about immigration.

Tekeste’s family expressed their shock over the ruling.

Speaking to MailOnline, the family’s lawyer, Dawit Stifnos, said: “This verdict offers no justice for Alem—a father of two and a long-time German citizen. She received only a two-year suspended sentence and will now return to the US with her passport.”

Stifnos added, “He was a husband, a father, and a taxpayer—this decision sends the message that his life meant nothing. The fact that she was walking around in broad daylight carrying a knife was barely addressed in court.”

The court viewed surveillance footage from the June 29, 2024, incident, which showed Ball stabbing Tekeste in the chest after an alleged physical and sexual harassment incident in the station.

Ball claimed the man had grabbed her from behind, and she acted in fear, initially trying to push him away before pulling out a knife and striking him in one swift motion.

Emotional scenes unfolded during the trial as Alem’s wife and children broke down in tears while the footage was shown.

As part of court proceedings, Ball was brought back to the station scene alongside court officials.

Images showed her retracing the steps of the fatal encounter.

Prosecutors initially asked for a 21-month sentence, arguing she did not intend to kill Tekeste.

The court, however, increased it to 24 months, still suspended, and ordered Ball to complete 500 hours of community service and undergo drug rehabilitation.

The case previously drew international attention after Elon Musk commented on X (formerly Twitter), asking, “What is wrong with Germany?” and accusing the country of “holding Ball hostage for stabbing a migrant.”

Alem’s family rebuked Musk’s remarks, telling MailOnline: “He knows nothing about the case. Alem was retreating when he was stabbed—did his actions truly warrant such a violent, fatal response?”