crime
Trial over dismembered body ends with prison sentences
The main defendant at the Stralsund regional court. The man was sentenced to prison. photo
© Stefan Sauer/dpa
Police officers made a gruesome discovery in an apartment in Greifswald last October – a dismembered corpse. Two men have now been sentenced to prison terms.
After a dismembered body was found in an apartment in Greifswald last fall, two 28-year-olds are now several years old were sentenced to prison terms. The Stralsund regional court found it proven that one of the two men first drank alcohol with the 38-year-old victim, then injured him in an argument and cut up the body of the man who died a short time later. According to the reasons for the verdict on Tuesday, the co-defendant was at least involved in the dismemberment.
The main defendant was sentenced to five years in prison for bodily harm resulting in death. He had partially admitted the allegations. But the court didn’t believe him because he only hit the victim once.
The now convicted man claimed that the 38-year-old had died after falling in the bathroom at night. He dismembered the body together with his friend, who was also accused. The co-defendant denied that. However, the court found at least some involvement. He was sentenced to three years in prison for attempted obstruction of justice.
During the proceedings, voice messages from the defendant, who was clearly overwhelmed, were played. The two convicts had contacted an acquaintance who was supposed to help remove the body. According to the court, the friend’s girlfriend, among others, called the police.
Both men were acquitted of the charge of disturbing the peace of the dead. According to the court, it would have had to be proven that the intention was to degrade the victim even after his death. In the present case, however, the main issue was probably the disposal of the body. The judgment is not yet legally binding.