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Police and forensics at the crime scene in Espelkamp (archive image)
Photo: Lino Mirgeler / dpa
Two people died in the summer of 2021 in a terraced housing estate in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia.
A man from Diepenau in Lower Saxony was charged – and now sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to the Bielefeld Regional Court, the 53-year-old first shot his brother-in-law and then his separated wife.
The victims were found about 100 meters apart.
The 48-year-old man was already dead, his 52-year-old sister died at the scene after unsuccessful attempts to revive him.
Residents heard four shots.
With its decision, the regional court followed the request of the public prosecutor's office and ruled on double murder out of malice and base motives.
The 53-year-old had confessed to the crimes in the process.
Accordingly, he first shot his wife's brother in a house in Espelkamp and then the fleeing woman on the street.
Particular severity of guilt
The accused cited despair over the failed marriage as a motive.
His defense attorney had pleaded manslaughter.
The unplanned act got out of hand.
The district court did not share this view.
In its verdict on Wednesday, the court determined the particular severity of the guilt.
This would make early release from prison after 15 years legally possible, but practically impossible.
The verdict is not yet legally binding.
The convicted man with Turkish citizenship can apply for a review by the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe (Az.: 1 Ks 17/21).
ala/dpa
