Dudelange: ten years' imprisonment for fatal assault arising from noise complaint
A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by the Luxembourg court for attempting to kill a 29-year-old woman during a dispute over noise disturbance in Dudelange.
Dudelange: ten years' imprisonment for fatal assault arising from noise complaint
The Luxembourg district court has sentenced a 31-year-old man, Max D., to ten years' imprisonment for attempted murder. The incident dates back to the evening of 14 February 2025, in a building in Dudelange, where a simple noise complaint escalated into extreme violence.
At around 20:00, a 29-year-old woman, present in her offices on the first floor, was approached by a neighbour disturbed by noises coming from the floor above. The young woman went up to the second floor to speak with the occupants.
A few minutes later, a call to the police alerted the authorities. At the scene, officers discovered an extraordinary scene of violence. In the corridor, abundant traces of blood covered the walls. The victim had taken refuge in an apartment on the first floor, accompanied by a colleague. Her face and body bore numerous wounds and contusions. Even an hour after the incident, the imprint of a sole remained visible on her left shoulder. Fibres torn from a black jumper found on the stairs were collected by investigators.
According to the judgment of the 13th criminal chamber, consulted by Luxemburger Wort, the man who opened the door initially declared that he was uninterested in the remonstrations. When the complainant threatened to call the police, he snatched her telephone, grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against a wall. Once on the ground, he struck her in the ribs, forced his fingers into her eyes and strangled her.
Returning briefly to his flat, he came back out to continue striking and trampling the unconscious woman, using his fists, knees and feet.
Medical practitioners diagnosed bruising under the left eye, on the temple, chest, arm and elbow, a loose upper incisor, and a wound to the upper lip requiring two stitches. The victim's condition was deemed incompatible with work for seven days.
Apprehended that evening, the accused presented a blood alcohol level of 1.29 g/l. Traces of cannabis and ketamine were also detected. The prosecution had requested proceedings for attempted homicide.
During the trial, the accused maintained that he had lost all memory of the events, even when confronted with photographs of the injuries. He did not deny the facts, assuring that he regretted his behaviour and had never intended to kill. He nevertheless acknowledged becoming aggressive under the influence of alcohol and narcotics, specifying that he ordinarily locks himself in his flat to avoid any outburst. This confession weighed precisely against him: it demonstrates that he understood the risk of his actions.
The accused was not unknown in the building. A neighbour testified to having been the victim on several occasions of racist insults from him. On one occasion, he had blocked her door to prevent her from leaving; on another, he had thrown glass bottles at her.
The criminal chamber concluded that the nature and intensity of the violence clearly indicated an intention to kill. The convicted man had repeatedly delivered violent blows to the head against a wall and continued to strike a defenceless victim on the ground. The judges concluded that he must have known that his actions could have a fatal outcome and that he had, at minimum, accepted the death of the young woman as a possible consequence. The constituent elements of attempted murder were thus established.
In view of his criminal record, a suspended sentence was legally excluded. In addition to the ten-year custodial sentence, Max D. must pay the victim 15,000 euros in compensation for physical and psychological harm, temporary incapacity for work and aesthetic sequelae, as well as approximately 5,200 euros for material damage. The complainant had initially claimed more than 62,000 euros. The accident insurance will moreover be reimbursed approximately 4,200 euros.
An appeal may be lodged within forty days. The presumption of innocence applies until a final decision.
Source: Luxembourg Times