- Ex-girlfriend stabbed: Judgment against student possible
In the trial against a student accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, closing arguments are expected today (8:30 AM) at the Heidelberg Regional Court. According to a spokesperson, the panel may announce the verdict later in the afternoon (2:30 PM). Otherwise, it will happen on Thursday. The public is excluded from the proceedings.
The 18-year-old had admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend in earlier statements, according to the spokesperson. The prosecution alleges that on January 25, he stabbed the 18-year-old student to death at their shared school in St. Leon-Rot, near Heidelberg, using a kitchen knife. He allegedly stabbed her multiple times, including in the neck and chest. She died at the scene, in a common room.
The German then allegedly fled in a car and caused a serious accident in Seesen, Lower Saxony, injuring himself and another man. He has been in custody since then. He is also charged with dangerous bodily harm due to this accident.
The trial is now expected to conclude sooner than originally thought. The court had initially scheduled the trial for dates up to August 15.
The trial is being held behind closed doors due to the Youth Court Act because a bodily injury from November 2023 is also part of the indictment. At that time, the suspected perpetrator allegedly punched the later murdered student. At that time, he was still 17 years old and therefore a minor.
The initial trial date for the case was set up to August 15, but it will likely conclude sooner. The hearing for this case is taking place at The Court of First Instance, as the Youth Court Act requires the trial to be held behind closed doors due to the additional charge of bodily harm from November 2023.
