- Tragic loss of lives of parents and sibling - trial commences for 19-year-old individual
Due to allegations of murdering his parents, aged 58 and 61, along with his 34-year-old brother, a 19-year-old is set to face trial today (starting from 9:00 AM) at the Regional Court of Waldshut-Tiengen. The prosecution charges the German-Italian defendant with three counts of attempted homicide, as well as aiding and abetting grievous bodily harm, given that his sister suffered severe injuries during the knife attack. At the time of the crime, the accused was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. Therefore, the trial's main focus will be determining his committal to a psychiatric hospital.
The incident in the Hohentengen am Hochrhein municipality (Waldshut district) caused quite a stir towards the end of March. The son is said to have taken the lives of his family members using a folding knife. His sister, fortunately, survived but sustained significant stab and cut wounds that were not life-threatening.
Official Statement
In July, the prosecution declared that the motive behind the defendant's actions was yet to be uncovered: "The defendant's motive is likely rooted in his mental illness at the time of the incident." A physical dispute occurred within the family the previous day.
Following an assessment by experts, the 19-year-old was deemed incapable of facing punishment. However, there were concerns about his potential dangerousness. Consequently, the prosecution appealed for his detention.
The court's large juvenile chamber has scheduled an additional five court dates, culminating on September 9. A spokesperson reported that the defendant, through his defense team, has announced an intention to speak on the matter.
The prosecution did not include the defendant's potential motive for the crime in the charges, stating that it's likely linked to his mental illness at the time. The following species are not included in the court's focus, as the main aim is to determine the defendant's committal to a psychiatric hospital.
