Cannibal: Victim 'wasn't alive'

2004-01-05 19:55

Kassel, Germany - The defence lawyer for self-confessed German cannibal Armin Meiwes disputed on Monday a forensic scientist's evidence that the victim, 43-year-old Bernd-Juergen Brandes, was still alive when Miewes began to carve up his body.

Harald Ermel said the victim had already bled to death, and Meiwes must have believed he was dead. The court made no initial ruling on whether to call for a new forensic report.

Meiwes is charged with murder "for sexual satisfaction" in March 201 and "disturbing the peace of the dead" by butchering the corpse.

His defence is pressing for a lesser charge of "killing on demand" which carries a maximum five-year jail sentence and is normally applied in cases of "mercy killing". Meiwes contends his victim had wanted to be killed and was aware of his fate.

A psychiatrist had already given evidence which depicted Meiwes as emotionally immature but not mentally ill.

Police who examined computer files seized at Meiwes's home also gave evidence at the resumption of the trial. Fifty pictures showed Meiwes cutting up Brandes, an engineer from Berlin he had met through the internet, the court was told.

Meiwes was tracked down and arrested in December 2002 after police became aware of an advertisement he had placed on the Internet looking for volunteers willing to be killed and eaten.

Thousands of pornographic pictures depicting acts of violence and torture were also found at the house near the town of Rotenburg, south of Kassel.

One police witness said prosecutors were investigating another man who was allegedly plotting an act of cannibalism.

The trial continues. Sentencing is expected on January 30. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA