In front of the Large Youth Chamber at the Coburg Regional Court, an 18-year-old confessed to having killed a 50-year-old florist with a kitchen knife on the evening of March 10, 2023 in downtown Lichtenfels. According to judicial press spokesman Timm Hain, the defendant – he was 17 years old at the time in question and a student at the local Meranier High School – had a statement from his defense lawyer Christian Barthelmes read out. According to this, the fatal crime was not intended.
According to the statement, the young person intended to go through shops in the center of Lichtenfels and, when the opportunity arose, rob one of the shops by holding a knife. He had previously entered several stores for this purpose, but did not put the plan into action there out of fear and scruples. He last entered the flower shop shortly before closing time in Lichtenfels. He initially didn’t implement his plan there either, left the store again, but then realized that the store in question might have offered the last opportunity of the day to rob a store. That’s why he returned.
In the store he threatened the saleswoman with a knife. After that, according to the description read out, the situation got out of control. He took the daily income stored there from the cash register, but the florist intervened loudly and, contrary to his expectations, screamed for help. According to the statement, when she tried to leave the store with the loot from the checkout, the 50-year-old blocked the then 17-year-old’s way. During a scuffle, the teenager claims he had no other option than to stab the saleswoman out of fear of being discovered. The florist died from her serious injuries.
The defendant asked the woman’s surviving relatives through his defense attorney to apologize for what had happened and accepted responsibility for the crime. He deeply regrets this. Personally, the 18-year-old only provided biographical information on the first day of the trial. He described his family environment as precarious. According to the defense, the then high school student is said to have saved money for a fishing license. But when he wanted to access it when the course fee was due, the savings were gone – presumably stolen by a family member. He then made his decision out of frustration and anger.
Because the defendant was not of legal age at the time of the crime, the main hearing is not public. The public prosecutor’s office accuses the defendant of murder in conjunction with robbery. A verdict is expected at the end of January.