After the violent crime against two American tourists not far from Neuschwanstein Castle, the trial begins against a compatriot of the two victims. The 31-year-old will have to answer to the Kempten regional court from Monday morning on charges of murder, rape resulting in death and attempted murder.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses the man of brutally attacking the two women for sexual reasons on June 14, 2023, while they were hiking near the Marienbrücke in Schwangau. The bridge is a popular meeting point for holidaymakers because from there you have a particularly good view of the fairytale castle of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II. After the attack, a 21-year-old died and her companion, who was one year older, was seriously injured.
The American is said to have strangled and raped the younger woman, and is also said to have pushed both victims down a slope approximately 50 meters deep. The defendant’s defense stated that it did not want to comment on the allegations ahead of the trial.
The court has initially planned six days of hearings for the trial. The verdict could therefore be announced in mid-March.