Before the Nuremberg-Fürth district court, the trial for the unmediated knife attacks on three women in the center of Nuremberg has begun. The defendant apologized to the victims after the attacks in the St. Johannis district. "I'm really sorry," said the 39-year-old.
The prosecutor's office accuses the man tried for months in pre-trial detention attempted murder in coincidence with dangerous bodily injury. He had confessed the deeds, but did not give any information on the motive. He could not explain the attack himself. A police patrol had caught the suspect shortly after the crime.
In December, the man reportedly stabbed three women at the age of 26, 34 and 56 in just a few hours. All three victims were severely injured in the upper body - two of the women were temporarily in mortal danger. The crime scenes were only a few hundred meters apart.
Liqueur and knife stolen
A police patrol had arrested the multiple convicted 39-year-olds after the crime. A little later, the homeless man was remanded. Nuremberg's police chief Roman Fertinger had then complained of a massive increase in knife attacks in his area of responsibility. Whether the Nuremberg numbers reflect a nationwide trend, however, can not be said.
The man had been caught by the police shortly before the knife attacks. But she released him again. He had stolen a bottle of schnapps and a knife. He should then have committed the offenses with another knife.
Seven trial days are scheduled for the trial and 27 witnesses are expected to testify. A ruling could fall in mid-October.
