As of: March 5, 2024, 9:52 a.m
By: Matthias Matz
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The parents of the murdered Eva L. also surprisingly appeared at the pleas.
© Matz
In the so-called Neuschwanstein trial, the public prosecutor's office, co-plaintiffs and defense made their submissions this morning.
That's what they demand.
Kempten / Schwangau - One day earlier than planned, the public prosecutor's office, co-prosecution and defense in the trial against Troy B. made their pleas in the regional court in Kempten this morning.
The 32-year-old American is accused of pushing two American students into the Pöllat Gorge near Neuschwanstein Castle in June last year.
He is said to have previously raped one of the two young women.
Pleas in the Neuschwanstein trial at the Kempten regional court: What punishment the public prosecutor's office is demanding for Troy B
The parents of those killed also unexpectedly appeared at the hearing.
The survivor, however, wrote an emotional letter to the court.
“Massive, terrible, leaves you speechless”.
This is how public prosecutor Christopher Treff described what is said to have happened on June 14th last year at a viewing point above Neuschwanstein Castle and the Marienbrücke.
After a chance encounter with the two students Eva L. (21) and Kelsey C. (22), Troy B. is said to have guided the two young women to a lookout point on the way back to Marienbrücke in order to attack the unsuspecting Eva L. strangle and finally rape.
During a fight, he pushed her friend Kelsey C. (22), who rushed to help, down into the Pöllat Gorge, where she remained slightly injured after 50 meters.
When he was disturbed during the rape by hikers who happened to be passing by, he also pushed the unconscious Eva L. into the gorge.
She died that night from severe strangulation injuries.
Pleas in the Neuschwanstein trial: Troy B. should go to prison for life
The prosecution and the representatives of the co-prosecution therefore demanded a life sentence for murder, rape resulting in death and attempted murder.
They also saw the particular severity of the guilt as given.
If the court follows this, Troy B.'s sentence can only be suspended after 15 years at the earliest.
Treff demanded subsequent preventive detention with reservations.
It must be ordered by a court later.
The parents of those killed, who appeared unexpectedly, followed the pleas from the bench of the co-plaintiff.
They repeatedly burst into tears as the details of the crime were replayed.
Prosecutor Treff made it clear in his plea that he had no doubts about the defendant's guilt as charged.
The aim of the attack on the killed Eva L. (21) was exclusively “the greatest possible sexual satisfaction”.
The petite student with Chinese roots corresponded exactly to B’s “prey pattern”.
Based on the files found on B's cell phone, he was convinced that B. had planned his crime for sexual motives and had acted with the intent to kill.
By pushing his victim into the ravine, he “simply disposed of him like an object.”
“The injured party never had a chance of surviving,” said Treff.
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Kelsey C., who wanted to help her friend, was also pushed over the cliff by the accused with clear intent to kill.
“She was in his way and just had to get away.
He didn’t care that she died.”
Pleas in the Neuschwanstein trial – public prosecutor: worthless confession
Treff described the confession made by B. on the first day of the trial, in which he denied having planned the crimes, as “tactical statements”.
The defendant merely admitted what was already proven based on witness statements and the analysis of his cell phone.
“What’s exciting is what wasn’t admitted,” said Treff.
He attested that the defendant had an “inhumane attitude”.
He didn't see any remorse or insight in the 32-year-old during the trial.
Philip Müller, one of the American's defense attorneys, emphasized that he essentially agreed with the charges.
“The defense also assumes it was a murder,” he said, and spoke of an “unbelievable act and unbelievable suffering for the relatives.”
However, he rejected the accusation of the planned approach.
“I don’t see a sophisticated plan, but a crime that is incomprehensible and leaves you speechless.”
None of the outsiders, including Kelsey C., know exactly how and why the attack on Eva L. happened.
In addition, his client was unable to assess how dangerous a fall into the ravine would be.
What is certain, however, is that neither woman suffered any life-threatening injuries as a result of the fall.
It cannot be assumed that the defendant pushed Kelsey C. down the slope with the intent to kill, but rather in the course of the fight.
B’s actions were “completely erratic and incomprehensible”.
Müller's colleague Dr.
Alexander Stevens spoke of an “extraordinary case” compared to other sexual murders.
But this is more due to the crime scene and the question of how a man who had previously been completely inconspicuous could commit such an act.
Although Stevens acknowledged his client's sexual motive, he did not recognize any other characteristics of the murder.
The guilt is therefore not particularly serious.
The prominent lawyer explained that the conditions for subsequent preventive detention were also not met.
Before pleas in the Neuschwanstein trial: Emotional letter from the survivors
Before the pleas, a translator read a letter from Kelsey C. to the court.
Like her parents and twin sister, she also described Eva L. as an unusually friendly and empathetic person.
“Your presence has changed me forever.” She says she has been suffering from panic attacks, anxiety, sleep disorders and persecution anxiety since the attack.
“Sometimes I think that I died at the bottom of the slope,” the young woman writes.
She always believed that getting old was a fact.
The act made her realize that it was a privilege.
The court asked them to take the pain of the survivors into account when determining the sentence.
“Please make sure he can’t do this again!”
For the first time during the proceedings, the defendant himself spoke personally.
In his closing statement, he said in a strangled, barely audible voice that he was incredibly sad about what had happened.
The verdict is due to be announced next Monday, March 11th, at 11 a.m.
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