Solothurn court hears case of brutal murder motivated by mere curiosity
A teenager killed a young woman because he wanted to know what it felt like to murder someone. The prosecution is demanding life imprisonment plus therapeutic detention.
Solothurn court hears case of brutal murder motivated by mere curiosity
A 19-year-old defendant stands before the district court of Solothurn, accused of murdering a young woman on her way home in spring 2023. The man's motivation: he wanted to try out what it felt like to kill a person.
The incident occurred on the evening of 8 April 2023. The teenager was driving a van and had originally intended to travel to Basel to a party. When this plan fell through, he drove back home via the motorways. At a roundabout, he suddenly had the thought of committing a murder.
Shortly afterwards, he spotted a young woman on an electric bicycle. She was on her way to her grandparents' home. The man turned around and chased the cyclist. He rammed her with the delivery van from behind. The woman fell but remained unharmed and was able to get up. Shocked that his victim was still alive, the perpetrator jumped out of the vehicle and struck her repeatedly. She blocked the blows and ran away.
The pursuer caught up with her in a field. There he cut off her air supply until she lay motionless on the ground. He returned to the van and stowed her bicycle. When he noticed from a distance that the woman was moving again, he steered the vehicle towards her once more and ran over the crouching figure. The young woman died at the scene.
The prosecution alleges that the defendant could have stopped and refrained from acting multiple times during the crime. His conduct was extremely reckless. In the courtroom, the defendant admitted to having taken drugs in the period before the act. He said he could understand that the public regarded him as a monster. However, he did not comment on his specific motives.
The senior prosecutor argued on Monday for a life sentence as well as outpatient compulsory treatment under Article 59 of the Criminal Code. This "limited detention" provides for a stay in a psychiatric clinic or in a measures facility, which initially lasts no more than five years and can be extended by further five-year periods if necessary. The prison sentence is to be suspended in favour of therapy.
A psychiatric expert testified in court that the young man showed no signs of schizophrenia, although he initially reported acoustic hallucinations. Rather, everything pointed to a character disorder. He was extremely egocentric and insecure. The desire to exercise power probably contributed to the act. The fact that he proceeded in part deliberately spoke against a purely impulsive act. Successful treatment would be difficult and would require considerable time.
The defence lawyer admitted her client's guilt but proposed eleven years' imprisonment, also suspended in favour of the therapeutic measures. Ten people have joined as co-plaintiffs. Family members of the deceased are following the proceedings in person.
The defendant has been in remand custody for three years. The verdict is due to be announced on 30 June. Until then, the presumption of innocence applies to him.
Source: SRF
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)