Cannibal in court again
2005-04-13 14:52
Berlin - Germany's Supreme Court on Wednesday reviewed prosecution demands for life in prison for the man who killed and ate another man, while his defence argued his sentence should be cut to five years.
The Federal Constitutional Court, Germany's highest court, is reviewing the grisly case of Armin Meiwes and his January 2004 conviction of the manslaughter of Bernd Juergen Brandes following appeals by both prosecutors and defence.
Meiwes was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after he confessed to killing, dismembering and eating Brandes.
The trial made headlines across the globe, in part because of the graphic descriptions the defendant gave in court. A grisly video that Meiwes made of the act was shown in closed session.
Prosecutors, who have called Meiwes a human butcher who acted simply to "satisfy a sexual impulse," are seeking a life sentence for murder.
Meiwes' defence argues that since the victim had volunteered to be killed and eaten, the crime should be classified a mercy killing, which carries a five-year maximum penalty.
Brandes travelled from Berlin to Meiwes' home near the central city of Kassel in reply to an internet advertisement seeking a young man for "slaughter and consumption." Meiwes testified that Brandes wanted to be stabbed to death after drinking a bottle of cold medicine to lose consciousness.
Meiwes told the trial he regretted the killing but that Brandes "came to me of his free will to end his life."
A verdict is expected April 22.
- AP