Weatherman accused

New accusations have materialized against Swiss-born TV meteorologist Joerg Kachelmann, as the weatherman admitted to German media he had been a philanderer.

Kachelmann's lawyer, Reinhard Birkenstock, confirmed Saturday a report by Focus news magazine detailing the new allegations against the 52-year old.

Kachelmann now stands accused of beating a former lover in 2001, in addition to charges that he raped his ex-girlfriend last February.

The new accuser claimed in an e-mail to the Mannheim district court, sent three days after Kachelmann was arrested on rape charges, that he had tied her up and beaten her in her apartment with a 50-centimeter stick. He was allegedly very upset over a misdirected text message and pulled the switch out of his suitcase.

Kachelmann seeking damages

Kachelmann, who was released earlier this week from pre-trial custody, has continually denied charges against him and has demanded damages in the sum of two million euros ($2.6 million) from daily tabloid Bild.

"I have certainly not done everything right in my life," he told Spiegel news magazine, adding that he had "not been monogamous in every phase" and "shouldn't have led any woman to believe that she was the only one."

He said that his relationship with his former girlfriend had continued longer than it should have. "I hurt her in a way that, looking back, I can only greatly regret," he said.

Still, Kachelmann insisted that he had committed no crime.

Kachelmann is set to stand trial September 6 in Mannheim for the alleged rape of his former girlfriend.

Author: David Levitz (AP/AFP/dpa)

Editor: Martin Kuebler