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Entrance of the Regional Court of Münster (archive picture)
Photo: Friso Gentsch / dpa
After a fatal argument over an allegedly loud phone call, a man from Münster was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.
Late in the evening of May 9, 2020, the defendant stabbed a 33-year-old man who was on the phone on a staircase in front of his house.
The blade of the knife had hit the heart among other things.
In the trial before the Münster jury court, the 62-year-old stated that the situation suddenly got completely out of control.
His defense lawyers had pleaded for self-defense and demanded acquittal.
The verdict is not yet legally binding.
Shortly before the verdict was announced, the defendant reaffirmed that he did not want to meet the 33-year-old.
"I'm not a murderer," he told the judges.
He has never exercised physical violence in his entire life.
"I deeply regret what happened."
"It was his wish to punish the injured party."
Judge Elisabeth Hülsmann
The judges assume that the 62-year-old was extremely upset.
After two previous speeches, he finally wanted to finally clarify the situation shortly before 11 p.m.
He left his penthouse apartment and went out into the street.
He put on work gloves and took a knife with him.
"He was bothered by the presence of the man sitting on his property, smoking and drinking," said Judge Elisabeth Hülsmann when giving reasons for the verdict.
He feared for his night's rest and got angrier and angrier.
He had stabbed the injured party, who did not expect an attack, two stitches in the chest and one in the lower abdomen.
He then tried to cover up the act and hid the knife in the green spaces.
"It was his wish to punish the injured party," said Hülsmann.
After his arrest, the defendant stated that he could not remember the exact sequence of events.
He only realized that the other man had been injured when he saw blood on his shirt.
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wit / dpa