Amy Lopez murder trial in Koblenz: All parties demand life sentence for Hans S.
In the trial over the murder of American Amy Lopez in 1994, the prosecution, co-prosecutors and defence all pleaded for a conviction of the defendant Hans S. on murder charges.
Closing statements in Koblenz murder trial: Even defence counsel demands conviction
In the trial over the killing of 24-year-old American Amy Lopez in 1994, all parties involved in the proceedings have demanded a conviction of the defendant Hans S. on murder charges, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Moreover, aggravating circumstances should be established. The now 81-year-old Hans S. fully admitted the crime at the start of the trial last week.
The prosecutor reiterated the charges in his closing statement, essentially repeating those from the first day of proceedings. According to this, Amy Lopez was a chance victim of Hans S. on the morning of 26 September 1994. S. was 49 at the time and had previously been convicted on multiple occasions of serious sexual offences. When he left his house that morning, he took handcuffs and a knife with him – he harboured rape fantasies.
The young tourist from the United States caught his attention in Koblenz city centre as she boarded a bus with a large backpack heading towards Fortress Ehrenbreitstein. S. cycled to the fortress and intercepted Lopez on the rock path. Under the pretence of showing her a shortcut, he led her to a secluded outbuilding.
There he put handcuffs on her from behind. When he was unable to achieve an erection, he penetrated her vagina with his fingers. When Lopez resisted physically and verbally, he drew his knife and stabbed her upper body nine times. He also strangled her neck and inflicted blunt force injuries to her head with a stone. The forensic pathologist determined the cause of death as "internal bleeding" and found that S. had also manipulated his victim's vagina after her death. He left the crime scene after throwing Lopez's underwear into the Rhine, among other things. Shortly after, playing children discovered the corpse.
"There is no doubt whatsoever regarding the evidence," the prosecutor declared. He considered the murder elements of treachery and satisfaction of sexual gratification to be fulfilled and demanded a life sentence. A forensic psychiatrist had certified that the defendant was accountable and therefore fully criminally responsible.
The co-prosecutors representing the father and brother of the deceased aligned themselves with the prosecution's demand. The lawyer for brother Walter Rimbau said S. had "effectively gone hunting" on that September morning in 1994. He also criticised that the defendant should have been expected to express at least a word of regret or remorse, "as a matter of basic decency".
The lawyer for Amy Lopez's father Robert Rimbau read out moving words from her client's mandate about his daughter. After the death of his wife, Robert Rimbau had raised his then 13-year-old daughter and three-year-older son alone. The European trip had been a gift to Amy Lopez, who had subsequently wanted to continue her medical studies. The devout Catholic conveyed that the family had prayed all these years that there would be no further victims; he thanked the investigation authorities for their persistence.
The defendant's defence counsel kept his remarks brief. His client had confessed to the crime and stood by it. Responding to the co-prosecution's accusation that Hans S. had not apologised, he countered with a sentence that characterised the proceedings: "One cannot apologise for murder." He had advised S. not to make an apology.
The defence also supported the establishment of aggravating circumstances, although this would have little practical significance in the specific case: S. could not apply for release until at least 15 years had passed – he would then be 96 years old. At the start of the trial, the defence counsel had already pointed out that it was quite possible that Hans S. would die in prison. When asked by the presiding judge for his final statement, the defendant declared: "I concur with the words of my counsel."
The verdict is to be announced on Friday. Amy Lopez's father and brother have announced they will be present in the courtroom.
Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung