/ 8 December 2003

Court to view video of cannibal killing

A German court was set Monday to view video tapes showing how a self-declared cannibal killed, cut up and ate his victim.

The second day of the murder trial of 42-year-old Armin Miewes began in Kassel with evidence to be given by police who visited the crime scene.

The public and media will be barred from the courtroom for the viewing of the video tapes scheduled to be shown in the afternoon.

Reports said the tapes will last between 90 minutes and two hours and be seen by 12 people – three judges, three jury members, three specialists, the prosecuting and defence lawyers and the accused.

Miewes had filmed the killing and butchering of his victim in March 2001.

On the first day of the trial Wednesday, Miewes admitted killing and eating his 43-year-old victim. He is charged with murder ”for sexual satisfaction” and ”disturbing the peace of the dead” by butchering the corpse. He could be jailed for life.

But his defence is pressing for a lesser charge of ”killing on demand”, claiming the victim had asked to be killed and was fully aware of his fate. The charge carries a maximum five-year jail sentence. – Sapa-DPA