Trial for kidnapping psychotherapist involving male suspects

Procedures - Trial for kidnapping psychotherapist involving male suspects

In the Cologne District Court, two individuals, aged 40 and 55, faced charges for the abduction of a psychotherapist. These charges included extortion, attempted blackmail, and inflicting bodily harm. The psychotherapist was allegedly kidnapped in October, with the intention of obtaining a million-dollar ransom. During the trial's opening on Wednesday, both men confessed to their involvement in the crime.

The older man, 55-years-old, claimed his participation was due to his love for the other defendant. The younger man, 40-years-old, already knew the psychotherapist as he had been undergoing treatment with her.

The prosecution's evidence suggests that this crime was carefully plotted. The older man had arranged a meeting with the psychotherapist under a false pretense. Once in her office, the duo is believed to have subdued the woman using chloroform, before imprisoning her in a crate. They also threatened her with drowning in the Rhine if she tried to resist.

Following her abduction, they reportedly took the psychotherapist to their apartment in the Cologne district of Niehl and kept her captive in a "soundproof" bathroom overnight until the following day. Here, the victim was said to have undergone the installation of a venous catheter for the administration of sedatives and drugs such as amphetamine and ecstasy.

Due to the impossibility of making a ransom payment of 1.5 million euros via mobile phone, the victim was compelled to sign a payment agreement and a nondisclosure agreement. The captors intended to prevent her from informing the police after her release. However, she did so and the accused were apprehended shortly afterward in the apartment. The indictment asserts that the woman remains so traumatized that she is unable to continue practicing her profession.

Read also:

1. Despite being from different backgrounds, both defendants hail from North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically the Cologne region.
2. The regional court in Cologne is handling multiple processes related to various crimes, including this high-profile case of kidnapping.
3. The traumatic experience of the kidnapping has left the victim with significant emotional scars, making it challenging for her to continue her love for counseling and helping others.
4. As a result of the kidnapping, the democratic process of justice and rehabilitation is underway to ensure both the punishment of the accused and the potential recovery of the victim.
5. The incident involving the two men and the psychotherapist serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of crime and the importance of community vigilance and support in dealing with such incidents.

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