Murder trial - Jogger stabbed - 35-year-old must permanently stay in psychiatry
Seven and a half months after a fatal stabbing attack on a jogger in Plänterwald, the Berlin Regional Court ordered the perpetrator to be permanently hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Driven by delusions and inner voices, the 35-year-old had stabbed the 29-year-old jogger, whom he did not know. The accused was not responsible for his actions due to a severe mental illness.
The two men had coincidentally met in the evening of November 20, 2023. According to investigations, the 35-year-old had stabbed the 29-year-old around 9:20 pm on the Spree riverbank in Berlin-Treptow. The victim had suffered multiple stab wounds in the neck area. The graphic designer died at the scene. Legally, this was considered a murder, according to the court. The judgment was in line with the requests of the prosecution and defense.
The mother of the perpetrator had filed a report out of concern before the incident.
"This is a shocking act, one that leaves you speechless - not just the crime itself, but also the lead-up to it," said Judge Sylvia Busch. There had been signs of potential danger from the 35-year-old before the stabbing. His mother had filed a report a few days before the incident because he had acted threateningly. The man, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia for years, had been untreated at the time.
Additionally, the man had appeared at the police station five days before the incident with an axe and had handed over his identity card. "Nothing was triggered by this," the judge added. Despite multiple hospitalizations, the 35-year-old had never received stable medical treatment.
The 35-year-old German had confessed. "What happened is something that causes me great sorrow," he said. "I attacked an unknown man because of my 'bad thoughts.' I wanted to stab someone - 'irrespective of who runs in front of me.'" After the crime, the 35-year-old had gone to a gas station, reported the fatal assault, and eventually led police to the Plänterwald near the Treptower Park, where they found the body of the 29-year-old.
The case of the fatal stabbing in Plänterwald was heard in the Berlin Regional Court, where the process of justice was thoroughly conducted. The court ruled that the perpetrator, a 35-year-old man, should be permanently hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital due to his severe mental illness, which was deemed responsible for his criminal actions. This tragic incident involved men from different walks of life, including the victim, a 29-year-old jogger, and the perpetrator, who was struggled with mental health issues and delusions. The incident took place near the Spree riverbank in Berlin-Treptow, an area known to many, and was considered a case of murder according to the court. The mother of the perpetrator had expressed concerns before the incident, filing a report due to his threatening behavior, but despite multiple hospitalizations, he never received stable medical treatment. This case highlights the importance of mental health support and early intervention in preventing criminality related to mental illness.
