Kempten Regional Court
“The incomprehensible act was committed”: Defendant admits fatal attack near Neuschwanstein
Neuschwanstein trial: The American accused of murder on the way to the courtroom
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / DPA
In June 2023, a man attacked two female tourists at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. He raped one of the two women and pushed both of them down a slope. He has now confessed this – although there are doubts about his account.
With a comprehensive confession, the murder trial surrounding the violent act of two 22-year-old and 21-year-old US tourists is close Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria began. 31-year-old Troy Philipp B., also from the USA, also confessed to the rape and massive physical attack on the 21-year-old in front of the Kempten regional court on Monday, who died as a result of the crime. “The defendant committed the incomprehensible act,” said his defense attorney Philip Müller.
B., who comes from the US state of Michigan, and the two women met by chance while hiking near the castle; they did not know each other before. The case in mid-June last year caused a stir throughout Germany and internationally. Neuschwanstein Castle, built under King Ludwig II, is internationally considered one of the most famous sights in Germany, and tourists from all over the world visit the castle.
B. is charged with murder, rape resulting in death, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of child pornography. He is said to have attacked the two women in the area of a hiking trail above the Marienbrücke at the castle. He is said to have pushed a 22-year-old woman down a 50-meter-deep slope; the woman survived with serious injuries. He is said to have raped the 21-year-old and then thrown her down the slope, where she died.
Defense attorney about Neuschwanstein perpetrators: “He is deeply ashamed”
According to the confession, B. had no plan. So he spontaneously decided to rape the 21-year-old who was lying on the ground. He choked and strangled the woman. “He was aware that the injured person could die without help, but he still left her behind,” said his defense attorney Müller.
As he said on the sidelines of the trial, the only question for the defense in the attack on the 22-year-old is whether it was a case of dangerous bodily harm instead of attempted murder. Accordingly, B. did not perceive the slope as so dangerous.
The US citizen also confessed to possessing child pornography. As an investigator said as a witness, among the child pornography images there was also a folder with pictures of the defendant’s little sister, which he had secretly taken.
“He is deeply ashamed,” the defense attorney said of his client. The crimes weighed heavily on his conscience and he wanted to apologize to the family of the murder victim.
Doubts about spontaneous rapeA US
When asked by the court, B. confirmed the accuracy of his defense attorney’s account. He was arrested shortly after the crimes and has been in custody ever since. According to his defense, B. does not want to provide any further information in the trial.
However, the investigations raise doubts about the depiction of a spontaneous rape. The police found numerous porn films on the defendant in which Asian women were tied up or raped while unconscious.
The two victims, who wanted to celebrate their graduation with a trip to Europe, were US citizens of Asian descent. According to the investigation, B. strangled his 21-year-old victim with his belt until he lost consciousness during the rape and also filmed the act. Witnesses who happened to walk by disturbed the crime.
According to one of the investigating police officers, the two women actually wanted to end their trip to Europe the day after the crime and fly back to the USA. The proceedings are initially scheduled for six days of negotiations until March 13th. If convicted, B. faces life imprisonment.