- Stabbed - Second murder trial interrupted
It's the second trial for a murdered woman at the Regional Court of Verden, but the court doesn't get very far on the first day: The presiding judge announced that the trial would be adjourned until Tuesday. The defense had previously criticized that they did not have enough time for preparation and were experiencing technical problems.
The prosecution accuses the defendant of killing his ex-partner with 20 stab wounds. After an appeal, the case had to be reheard at the Regional Court of Verden. Originally, the court had sentenced the defendant to ten years and six months imprisonment for manslaughter.
Ambushed with a knife
According to the prosecution, the couple separated in April 2022. The defendant moved out of their shared apartment in Bad Fallingbostel (district of Heidekreis) but allegedly gained access to an empty apartment in the same building. From there, he secretly observed his former partner. He allegedly sent her and her mother threatening messages and threatened to kill her.
In August 2022, the Bulgarian defendant allegedly ambushed the woman outside the apartment. He had a 14-centimeter-long knife attached to his hand with tape. When she returned from a meeting with her new boyfriend with their shared son, he stabbed her.
According to the prosecution, the woman had pepper spray with her but couldn't defend herself. She fled from the stairwell into the open, where the defendant caught up with her and continued stabbing. The woman received 20 stab wounds and died before the arrival of the rescue services.
Federal Court of Justice overturns first verdict
In February 2023, the defendant first stood trial at the Regional Court of Verden. At that time, he did not comment on the charges, but his defense attorney read out a statement on his behalf. In it, the now 36-year-old denied that he intentionally wanted to injure or kill his ex-partner. He claimed to have acted in self-defense because the victim threatened him with pepper spray.
In March 2023, the court reached a different conclusion and convicted the defendant of manslaughter. At that time, the chamber did not find any indications of a murder, especially premeditation. The civil party filed an appeal and was successful. The Federal Court of Justice overturned the verdict in the spring because the evidence for the murder element of premeditation had not been properly considered. The case had to be reheard.
Threat of a sentence for murder?
At the beginning of the new trial at the Regional Court of Verden, the defense attorney requested that the trial be suspended. He criticized that he did not have enough time for preparation and was experiencing technical difficulties. The court rejected the application but adjourned the trial until Tuesday after the indictment was read out. A verdict could fall by the end of September - then the defendant could also be sentenced for murder.
The defense attorney's concerns about insufficient preparation time and technical issues might lead to potentially serious consequences, as a verdict for murder could be handed down by the end of September.
Despite the ambush with a knife and the delivery of 20 stab wounds, the initial verdict only convicted the defendant of manslaughter, sparking an appeal and eventual overturning by the Federal Court of Justice based on inadequate consideration of the premeditation element.
