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Verjährung

statute of limitations; prescription (of a criminal offence)

noun fer-YAY-roong Rare

Usage Note

Verjährung is the expiry of the period during which legal action can be brought. In criminal law the Verjährungsfrist depends on the severity of the offence; murder (Mord) does not become verjährt in Germany.

Examples

"Die Straftat war bereits verjährt, als die Polizei die Ermittlungen aufnahm."

Natural Translation

The offence had already passed the statute of limitations when the police began investigations.

Literal Translation

The criminal-act was already statute-barred when the police the investigations took-up.

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