Murder Trial Takes Shocking Turn: Accused Claims Ex-Partner Was Present
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- In a surprising turn during a murder trial in Augsburg, the accused claimed his stepfather, the victim's ex-partner, was present at the scene of the crime.
- The 30-year-old defendant stated he heard gunshots and was later handed the weapon by his stepfather, only revealing this after the stepfather's arrest.
- The victim, a mother of three, was found murdered a year prior, and her children witnessed the event; the stepfather was recently arrested on suspicion of inciting murder.
A dramatic development has unfolded in the Augsburg murder trial, where a 30-year-old man stands accused of killing a mother of three. In a courtroom revelation that has sent shockwaves through the proceedings, the defendant asserted that his stepfather, who was also the victim's former partner, was present at the time of the murder. This testimony, delivered after the stepfather's recent arrest, fundamentally shifts the focus of the investigation and the trial.
He – the accused – was not at the property; he heard shots and was then handed the weapon by the stepfather afterwards.
The accused claims he was not inside the residence but heard the gunshots. He alleges that his stepfather subsequently handed him the weapon. This account was previously unvoiced, with the defendant having remained largely silent or communicating only through his lawyers, who maintained his innocence. The court is now tasked with meticulously examining and evaluating these new claims, which emerged only after the stepfather's apprehension on suspicion of inciting the murder.
He could only reveal this now after the arrest of his stepfather, said the accused 30-year-old, according to the court.
The victim was found dead a year ago, having suffered four gunshot wounds to the head. Tragically, her three young children were present in the house and witnessed the horrific event. The nine-year-old daughter discovered her mother and alerted authorities. The court's proceedings have been deeply impacted by the trauma experienced by these children, who have already had to testify.
So far, he had only let it be known through his lawyers that he did not shoot the woman and had otherwise remained largely silent.
Investigators had previously suspected the 43-year-old ex-partner's involvement, particularly after the victim separated from him in April 2025. Reports suggest he may have hired the accused, whom he raised, to spy on the victim. The possibility of a contract killing, orchestrated by the ex-partner, had been a subject of speculation among observers of the trial. This latest testimony brings these suspicions to the forefront, potentially reshaping the entire narrative of the crime.
The chamber will now have to examine and evaluate the defendant's new statements, it was said in court.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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