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“This is killing undertaken for both killer and victim and cannot be regarded as the worst case of premeditated killing,” Kreuzer told Reuters. Professor Arthur Kreuzer of the Institute for Criminology at Giessen University believes that the complexity of the trial may lead to the proceedings becoming a benchmark case. They will also push for a life sentence on the basis that Meiwes is simply too dangerous to ever be released. As Meiwes passed a psychiatric examination which found that he was not insane, they believe that his actions took advantage of the state of mind of Brandes and are therefore pushing for a charge of murder motivated by sexual urges to be applied. However, while prosecutors acknowledge Brandes said he wanted to die, they add that the victim may have been incapable of rational thought. Meiwes' house in the town of Rotenburg an der Fulda where Brandes died. The defendant’s lawyer insists that Meiwes should be convicted of "killing on request," a form of illegal euthanasia which carries a sentence of six months to five years.

In such an unprecedented case, both prosecution and defense teams are offering specifically refined charges to fit the bizarre crime. The alternative is for Meiwes to be tried for manslaughter, a charge which carries a term of 15 years or considerably less, after which Meiwes would be free. If Brandes willingly offered himself to Meiwes for slaughter, as the video evidence of the whole incident suggests, then the problem, according to legal experts, is that a murder charge carrying a possible life sentence will be difficult to apply. I accept that I am guilty and I regret my actions" - and with visual evidence to the fact available in the disturbing form of the footage filmed by the defendant at the time, the question is not whether Meiwes will be convicted or not but on what charge. The fact that Brandes applied for the position of the "well-built man, 18-30 years old, for slaughter" is the crux of the legal dilemma facing the court.Īfter admitting to killing Brandes - "I admit what I've done. What really chilled the bones was the revelation that Brandes had apparently volunteered himself to this fate by answering an ad Meiwes had placed on a Web site for cannibalism enthusiasts.