US man admits to attacking 2 tourists, killing one of them near famous German castle

The defendant is charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography

Prosecutors say the defendant met by chance the two female tourists, aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them off the trail on June 14 last year

2-MIN READ2-MIN

A 31-year-old American man accused of murder stands in the dock behind his lawyers in a courtroom at the district court in Kempten, Southern Germany. He on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two US women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year. Photo: AP

Published: 7:49pm, 19 Feb 2024

An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two US women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein castle last year.

The defendant, 31, admitted to the charges during the start of his trial, the German news agency dpa reported. Defendants in the German legal system do not formally enter pleas to charges.

“The defendant has committed an unfathomable crime,” defence lawyer Philip Mueller said. The defendant, whose name has not been released in line with German privacy rules, confirmed that his lawyer’s statement was correct but did not answer any questions.

The defendant is charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography. Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison in Germany.

A general view shows Neuschwanstein Castle, following a police report of an attack near the castle on June 15, 2023. Photo: Reuters

The attack happened on June 14 last year near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a view of Neuschwanstein, one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions.