Body hidden in manhole - trial against 41-year-old man

Cologne Regional Court - Body hidden in manhole - trial against 41-year-old man

A 41-year-old man allegedly stabbed an acquaintance to death and then hid his body in a manhole. Since Tuesday, the man has been on trial for manslaughter at Cologne District Court. The accused is said to have first knocked his friend unconscious and then stabbed him to death.

According to the indictment, there was an argument between the 41-year-old and the later victim in his apartment on the day of the attack in March 2023. The later victim asked the accused to leave the apartment "for good and for the last time". The accused, who was threatened with homelessness, became so enraged that he punched and kicked the man, said the public prosecutor at the arraignment.

The victim allegedly fell to the ground and was then kicked in the face and head by the defendant, whereupon the owner of the apartment lost consciousness. The 41-year-old then decided to kill his opponent. "To do so, he grabbed a knife in the apartment and stabbed the victim, who was lying on his stomach, 25 times in the upper back and neck area," the indictment continued. The victim bled to death on the spot.

The following night, the 41-year-old allegedly took the body to a nearby country road in a wheelbarrow, hid it in a manhole and covered it with gravel. However, because the victim's red sneakers were still sticking out of the top of the manhole, a 19-year-old discovered the body a short time later.

According to the indictment, the 41-year-old committed the crime due to an acute psychotic illness in a state of significantly reduced culpability. In addition to a guilty verdict and a conviction, the trial could also result in his permanent placement in a psychiatric ward. The accused did not give any details of the charges.

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1. The trial for the 41-year-old suspect, accused of hiding his victim's body in a manhole following a fatal stabbing, is currently ongoing at the Cologne Regional Court, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
2. Despite the accusations of criminality, including manslaughter, the defense argues that the 41-year-old was in a state of acute psychotic illness, reducing his culpability during the time of the incident.
3. The Cologne Regional Court, known for its role in handling serious criminal processes, will determine whether the suspect is guilty of the charges and if he requires permanent placement in a psychiatric ward.

Source: www.stern.de