Murder trial without a body - Court renders judgement in the case of the missing pregnant woman
Over two months have passed since the disappearance of a 39-year-old woman from Nuremberg who was in her eighth month of pregnancy. Although her body has not been found yet, both the Prosecution and the Police are certain: It was a murder.
The Landgericht is set to announce the verdict in the trial against the former partner of the woman and his business partner on the coming Wednesday (24th). However, this will not clarify the criminal case entirely, and the legal proceedings could still continue afterwards.
Overpowered, kidnapped, murdered?
What happened on December 9, 2022, when the pregnant woman suddenly vanished after dropping off her foster child at the kindergarten? To answer this question, investigators have examined hundreds of traces in Germany and abroad and consulted numerous experts. In the opinion of the Prosecution, the pieces of evidence point to the fact that the 39-year-old woman became a victim of a crime.
Video recordings from surveillance cameras, DNA traces, fingerprints, mobile phone data - all this, according to the Prosecution, proves that the two defendants overpowered, kidnapped, and killed the woman - and thus also the unborn child she was expecting with her new partner. For the two defendants, a 51-year-old man from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 49-year-old German, the Prosecution demands life imprisonment. In addition, the court is expected to determine the aggravating circumstances of the crime.
Defense: Holes in the evidence presentation
However, for the defense, only an acquittal is a possibility. There is no chain of evidence but rather a patchwork, and this has holes, explained defense attorney Christian Krauße during the trial. The DNA traces cannot be definitively attributed to the defendants, and other persons could have left them, the defense pointed out, among other things. There is no evidence that the defendants were at the possible crime scenes. Furthermore, there is no motive for the crime.
The Prosecution, however, believes that financial disputes serve as the motive. The former partner allegedly used the bank manager's money for real estate deals that ran through the second defendant, providing them with a luxurious lifestyle. After the separation, however, he no longer had access to their accounts.
With a fraud scheme, the men are believed to have attempted to gain access to the fortune despite this. The woman identified them - and disappeared a few days before the trial was to begin. Before the men allegedly murdered the 39-year-old woman, they are said to have forced her to withdraw her complaint against them in a letter to the justice system.
Great interest in the trial
Observers eagerly await the verdict announcement. Many followed the proceedings regularly. The public gallery was fully occupied during the defense's plea.
However, the evidence presentation could not answer all the questions about what actually happened on December 9. The plaintiff had hoped for a statement from the defendants during the trial - also to find out where the woman's body is hidden. However, they remained silent throughout the entire proceedings about the accusations against them.
According to some judgments – the prosecution or defense may file a revision – many process observers consider this likely. The disappearance of the 39-year-old could keep the justice system occupied for even longer.
The Public Prosecutor's Office is working diligently to build a strong case against the two defendants in the murder trial, which is set to take place in the Landgericht of Bavaria, also known as Bayern in German.
Despite the Meticulous efforts of the Police and the Prosecutor's Office, DNA evidence and mobile phone data are crucial pieces of evidence in the case of the 39-year-old woman's disappearance and suspected murder.
The Court in Nuremberg, Germany, will soon reach a verdict in the trial of the former partner and his business associate, both facing charges for the 39-year-old woman's murder and kidnapping.
Ms. Krauße, the defense attorney, has raised concerns about the holes in the evidence presentation, suggesting that other individuals could have left DNA traces and that there's no definitive proof of the defendants' presence at the crime scenes.
Despite the defense's argument, the Prosecutor's Office believes that financial disputes were the motive for the crime, as the former partner lost access to his accounts after their separation.
