High court reviews German man's conviction for killing, eating other man
12:04 AM EDT Apr 15
BERLIN (AP) - Germany's supreme court reviewed Wednesday prosecution demands for a life sentence for the man who killed and ate another man, while his defence argued his sentence should be cut to five years.
The Federal Constitutional Court, Germany's highest court, is reviewing the grisly case of Armin Meiwes and his January 2004 conviction of the manslaughter of Bernd Juergen Brandes, following appeals by both prosecutors and defence.
Meiwes was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after he confessed to killing, dismembering and eating Brandes.
The trial made headlines across the globe, in part because of the graphic descriptions the defendant gave in court. A grisly video that Meiwes made of the act was shown in closed session.
Prosecutors, who have called Meiwes a human butcher who acted simply to "satisfy a sexual impulse," are seeking a life sentence for murder.
Meiwes' defence argues that since the victim had volunteered to be killed and eaten, the crime should be classified a mercy killing, which carries a five-year maximum penalty.
Brandes travelled from Berlin to Meiwes' home near the central city of Kassel in reply to an Internet advertisement seeking a young man for "slaughter and consumption." Meiwes testified that Brandes wanted to be stabbed to death after drinking a bottle of cold medicine to lose consciousness.
Meiwes told the trial he regretted the killing but that Brandes "came to me of his free will to end his life."
A verdict is expected April 22.
© The Canadian Press, 2005
Yes, he carved up and ate another human being, but it was not without the victim’s express consent—so goes the defense of Armin Meiwes, known as the ‘German cannibal,’ following appeals by both sides, defense and prosecution, of the verdict.

While Meiwes was convicted to 8 ½ years in prison for the manslaughter killing and eating of another human, Bernd Juergen Brandes, he argues that the victim had volunteered to be eaten, advertising the fact that he wanted someone to take part in “slaughter and consumption” on the Internet.

Testimony in the case showed that Brandes wanted to die a stabbing death after imbibing a bottle of cold medicine to lose consciousness.

Brandes “came to me of his free will to end his life,” said Meiwes. He believes his actions are a mercy killing, not manslaughter.

The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, the highest court in the country, is reviewing the January 2004 conviction. The trial gained notoriety both from graphic descriptions Meiwes gave during the proceedings, as well as a grisly video presented to the judges in closed session.

Meiwes seeks a reduction in sentence to 5 years, while the prosecution believes the cutting and dismembering deserves not just the full 8 ½ years already passed against the defendant, but a life sentence.

The court should decide by Friday, April 22, 2005.