Troy B. holds a red loose-leaf binder in front of his face as he is led through the long corridors of the Kempten residence by police officers. He is on his way to the courtroom in the district court where he is being tried this Monday morning on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and rape. Rarely has a crime taken place in such a well-known and highly frequented location: just a few meters from Neuschwanstein Castle. And only rarely has a crime been so well documented thanks to two smartphone videos.
The media interest is correspondingly high. A dozen cameramen and photographers focus on the 31-year-old as he is led to his seat in handcuffs. The man in the light blue shirt turns away from the cameras. He stares towards the wall. He still has the loose-leaf binder in front of his face, underneath he is wearing a gray mask. When presiding judge Christoph Schwiebacher enters the courtroom, Troy B. has to drop his mask. Sitting in the dock is a man with thinning black hair and a goatee.
Neuschwanstein trial in Kempten: public prosecutor reads out indictment
His face shows no expression, his gaze is directed to the floor as public prosecutor Treff reads out the indictment. The words make you shudder. On four pages, the Kempten public prosecutor describes what allegedly happened on the afternoon of June 14, 2023 above the Marienbrücke, a bridge near Neuschwanstein Castle.
It is the day on which a 21-year-old American woman loses her life. Two videos and a photo taken by the perpetrator with his smartphone at 2.34 p.m. help to reconstruct the events in full. Although encrypted, the police were able to unlock the files. The footage shows him choking his victim into unconsciousness, undressing her and performing sexual acts on her. When the woman stops moving, Troy B. wants to penetrate the victim with his penis, according to the public prosecutor's office. But he is surprised by a couple that was on the way to the spot close to the castle to enjoy the view.
Couple watched Troy B. commit the crime and assumed it was consensual sex
The woman testified in court that she initially thought she had caught Troy B. and his victim having consensual sex. "Oh, sorry," he shouted and zipped up his trousers. Somewhat embarrassed by this incident, the couple continued to walk up the Tegelberg from the Marienbrücke bridge. Only later do the witnesses realize that it was actually a crime they saw.
The disaster begins for the young American college graduate on this summer's day by chance. According to the investigation, she slipped on a steep path together with her friend (22) and the later perpetrator. Troy B. lures them away from the actual path, promising them he knew a great spot to take pictures. He walks behind the two women. He then pushes the younger of the two to the ground and chokes her. The woman screams for help. "Call 911", she is said to have shouted to her friend.
The 22-year-old tries to rescue her friend, scratches her opponent in the face and tugs at his arm. Moments later, the three of them are wrestling on the ground. Troy B. finally manages to restrain one of the women and pushes the 22-year-old down the slope with his other arm. Her deep fall is stopped by a tree where she lies conscious and later calls the emergency services.
Couple passes the crime scene again on the way back
Further up the mountain, Troy B. continues his assaults on the younger woman. He strangles her several times with his belt. According to the public prosecutor, he injured the woman so severely that the violence alone would have been enough to kill her. He then pushes his now unconscious victim down the slope and flees. The couple mentioned before passes the crime scene again a few minutes later on their way back. They discover items of clothing and that something is moving on the end of the steep hill. Almost at the same time as the 22-year-old, the couple calls the emergency services. But any help comes too late.
Whatever he is accused of on this Monday morning before the Kempten district court - Troy B. largely confesses to it. He is deeply ashamed, the crime weighs heavily on his conscience, his defense lawyers read out a statement. During a break in the proceedings, he has a handkerchief handed to him. His eyes fill with tears. Afterwards, however, he regains his stoic expression.
The trial against Troy B. continues next Monday at the Kempten district court. At the end of the first day of the trial, the prosecution and defense agreed to refrain from questioning the survivors.