Four months after the violent crime against two American tourists near Neuschwanstein Castle, charges have been brought against a 31-year-old. The Kempten public prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday that the American was accused of murder and attempted murder.
In the attack near the Marienbrücke in Schwangau, a 21-year-old died and her companion, who was one year older, was injured. The man is said to have raped the younger woman and pushed both victims down a slope. The bridge is a popular viewing point with views of the castle.
The case caused a huge international stir in June. According to the investigation, the three vacationers from the USA are said to have met each other by chance. The man is then said to have attacked the two women for sexual reasons. “It is suspected that the accused then deliberately guided the two women from the hiking trail to a viewing point a few meters away,” the prosecutors reported.
He is then said to have thrown the younger woman to the ground to undress her. According to the investigation, the 22-year-old intervened in this situation, whereupon the man is said to have pushed the companion about 50 meters down. The prosecution assumes that the man then strangled and raped the 21-year-old. He is then said to have thrown her down the slope too.
View from the Marienbrücke into the Pöllat Gorge.
(Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa)
The man is accused of rape with death and dangerous bodily harm and possession of child pornography. Corresponding files were said to have been on the confiscated cell phone and the man’s computer.
The two women were rescued from the gorge after the attack. The doctors could no longer do anything for the younger of the two.
The Kempten regional court must now examine the charges and decide whether the case will be heard publicly. There is no court date yet.