The act made headlines worldwide in 2023 and caused shock in the region: In May of last year, an American apparently pushed two women near the Marienbrücke at germanys Neuschwanstein castle into the Pöllatschlucht. One of them died. The prosecutor's charge is murder, and now the Kempten District Court has announced the date for the trial.
Kempten District Court announces the start of the trial in the Marienbrücken drama
Accordingly, the first day of the trial is scheduled to begin on February 19, 2024, at nine o'clock, in courtroom 169, on the first floor of the Kempten Courthouse. A total of six trial days are planned for this proceeding. The dates are scheduled as follows:
- Monday, 02/19/2024
- Monday, 02/26/2024
- Wednesday, 02/28/2024
- Monday, 03/04/2024
- Monday, 03/11/2024
- Wednesday, 03/13/2024
Whether additional dates need to be scheduled beyond this depends on the progress of the evidence collection, according to the court.
Death drama at the Marienbrücke near Cinderella Castle in southern Germany: What is the charge?
The 31-year-old American is charged with murder and attempted murder. Upon conviction, he faces life imprisonment.
In brief, the Kempten prosecutor's office accuses the man of attacking two women in an area of a hiking trail above Neuschwanstein Castle - the so-called Kanzel. The accused is said to have intentionally pushed one of the women about 50 meters deep into the Pöllatschlucht - a canyon near the world famous Neuschwanstein castle - with the intention of murder. She survived the fall with a head injury, bruises and abrasions.
The second woman is alleged to have been strangled by the man until unconsciousness and subsequently raped. Afterward, he is said to have also pushed her into the Pöllatschlucht. She died from the injuries.
According to the police and prosecutor's office, the two victims had accidentally encountered their assailant. He lured them under a pretext near the Marienbrücke, which is behind the castle. There, the man attacked the two women. Thanks to precise descriptions from witnesses, the police quickly arrested him in the vicinity of the crime scene. In the following investigators also found child pornography on the 31-year-old's smartphone.
Fatal attack at Neuschwanstein Castle: Background and previous coverage
Since the incident in June, when a large police force suddenly drove to the Marienbrücke and a helicopter circled the area, the editorial team has reported extensively on the crime and its background.
Shortly after the incident, chat messages from the suspect were revealed, in which he reported a strange dream to a friend just before the crime. Also, an eyewitness who observed the arrest of the perpetrator and was near the crime scene at the time reported his experiences.
Death drama at the fairytale castle attracts international attention
The case also attracted international attention in the media. Therefore, the district court expects significant media interest at the trial's start before the Schwurgerichtskammer on February 19. Six trial dates are initially scheduled.
The accused has so far remained silent about the allegations. According to US media research, he is said to come from a small town near Detroit, worked on an oil field, and lived a very secluded life. Former classmates describe him as "shy and peculiar."
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This article was translated with help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by our editors.
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