Trial for manslaughter occurs without a body present: Defendant refutes involvement.

Bielefeld: Discovering a new perspective. - Trial for manslaughter occurs without a body present: Defendant refutes involvement.

During a murder trial where no body was present, the defendant in Bielefeld District Court insisted he had not killed a businessman for money. During the initial hearing on Tuesday, a 37-year-old man from Enger, Herford region, declared that he hadn't killed the man and even added, "I think he's still alive."

The prosecution is certain that the German individual murdered a 62-year-old businessman in October 2023, with the goal of acquiring the victim's real estate and possessions. Forensic investigation suggested the 62-year-old was attacked on his property. Authorities tracked down the victim's car in the Netherlands. Previously, the defendant was spotted with the victim's car in a parking lot in Melle, Lower Saxony. The missing man's phone was found in the vehicle, allowing for tracking. Seven weeks after the man's disappearance, authorities captured the 37-year-old. He had the victim's car keys and documents on him.

Investigators suspect the 37-year-old killed the owner of a company with a warehouse in Hüllhorst, Minden-Lübbecke. Although no body was found, the court has scheduled 14 more hearing dates until mid-August.

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1. Despite the ongoing trial in Bielefeld Regional Court, authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia are still searching for the body of the 62-year-old businessman, suspecting greed as a motive for his alleged murder by the defendant, who was found with the victim's car and documents in Melle, Lower Saxony.
2. As the trial progresses in Bielefeld, the defendant's legal team is arguing that there is no concrete evidence linking him to the processes of the businessman's disappearance and death, refuting allegations of his involvement in the crime.
3. The case has drawn attention in the regional and national news, with many prematurely concluding the defendant's guilt based on limited information, sparking public debate about the futility of judging before a ruling from the Bielefeld District Court.

Source: www.stern.de