14 years imprisonment and placement in a murder clinic

Created: 2022-11-11Updated: 2022-11-11 2:29 PM

A depiction of the goddess Justitia.

© Carsten Koall/dpa/symbol picture

The wedding was originally supposed to be celebrated this year, but it didn't happen: the woman separated and the man killed her under the influence of drugs.

The defendant does not receive a life sentence for the murder.

Potsdam – He killed his former partner in Potsdam with numerous stab wounds: a man had to be imprisoned for 14 years for the murder of the woman and was placed in a psychiatric hospital.

The Potsdam district court pronounced this judgment on Friday (Az.: 21 Ks 4/22, 486 Js 8552/22), as a spokesman said.

The 41-year-old German defendant, who also attacked the woman's daughter, is charged with murder and dangerous bodily harm.

According to the court, however, his criminal responsibility was reduced.

According to previous plans, the couple wanted to celebrate their wedding in February, but the woman previously separated from the man.

In March of this year, he killed his former partner in the Waldstadt district of Potsdam while under the influence of drugs with numerous knife wounds.

Prosecutors say the motive was jealousy.

He also stabbed the woman's daughter, who wanted to come to her mother's aid.

However, the daughter suffered no life-threatening injuries.

The verdict is not yet legally binding.

Prosecutor Peter Petersen had asked for 15 years in prison and placement in a psychiatric clinic.

The defense pleaded for 12 years imprisonment and accommodation in a specialist clinic.

Lawyer Matthias Schöneburg said in his closing speech on Friday that his client would take responsibility.

The defense declined to appeal.

It was initially unclear whether the public prosecutor's office would appeal.

The case made waves in state politics.

The defendant had previously been in the penitentiary.

From September to December last year, he was temporarily placed in a psychiatric clinic again.

However, the district court in Frankfurt (Oder) decided not to extend the time there and to dismiss him.

Brandenburg's Minister of Justice, Susanne Hoffmann (CDU), had rejected allegations in October in the state parliament's legal committee and said that she saw no omissions on the part of the responsible authorities.

With reference to the judicial independence, she did not evaluate the risk forecast of the Frankfurt (Oder) Regional Court, even if she regretted the further development.

dpa