A heinous crime in a fairytale landscape: An American confessed on the first day of his trial on Monday to the rape and murder of one of his compatriots in June, just a stone's throw from the famous Neuschwanstein Castle.
“The defendant committed these unspeakable acts,” said his lawyer Philipp Müller at the opening of the hearing in the Kempten regional court.
Troy Philip. B, 30 years old at the time of the events, is accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old American tourist and then throwing him off a cliff last June.
He is also on trial for attempting to kill his 22-year-old friend, who was trying to help him, by also pushing her into the void.
The defendant is charged with murder, rape resulting in death, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. The trial is scheduled until March 13th.
He is also on trial for possession of child pornography images that investigators discovered during searches of his apartment.
“He feels deep shame,” assured the defendant’s lawyer, adding that he wanted to ask the victim’s family for forgiveness. He warned that he would not speak further during his trial.
Intentionally?
The events had a special resonance because they took place near the famous Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most touristic places in Germany.
Built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the building, which dominates a 200-meter-high ledge amidst the trees, seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale, so much so that it is said to have even provided the inspiration for the Walt Disney Studios logo.
According to investigators, Troy Philipp B. met the two young women while hiking near the monument and offered them to go with him to Marienbrücke, a bridge famous for its viewpoint.
Troy Philipp B hides his face in court on Monday. Photo Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / AFP
According to the German press, the two friends traveled through Europe after completing their computer science studies.
The victims were quickly treated by emergency services. But the 21-year-old young woman did not survive the fall from a height of around 50 meters.
The police arrested the escaped suspect not far from the crime scene. According to German media, the operation by police and emergency services took place in front of hundreds of tourists.
The investigators suspect an intentional act because the defendant had pornographic films in his house in which women of Asian origin, like the victims, were attacked and raped.
Especially since, according to the Bild daily newspaper, the suspect filmed some of the crimes committed in Neuschwanstein.