German court hears cannibal’s potential victims
The stocky 28-year-old receptionist, who arrived at the court with a scarf wrapped around his head, was one of five cannibal fantasists due to testify in the trial of Armin Meiwes, who has admitted killing and eating one man.
The hearing was not open to the public or the media.
In earlier testimony, Meiwes said he did not want to eat the man, who apparently wanted to be beheaded, because he was fatter than he had let on in their contacts over the Internet.
The second potential victim, a 39-year-old salesman, entered the building wearing a cap, scarf and glasses and also gave evidence in camera.
Previously, he described himself to police as a “devoted abattoir fan“, but Meiwes has claimed the man only played role games, entering a specially built cage and licking his apron and boots.
“Then we drank a beer together and he left,” Meiwes told investigators.
In addition, the court in the central German town of Kassel heard yesterday from a 25-year-old former homosexual partner of the accused who described him as “kind, helpful and happy.”
He said he was unaware of the cannibal tendencies of Meiwes, whose lawyer said has been receiving fan mail in prison, although not from people wanting to be eaten.
Meiwes, a 42-year-old computer technician, has insisted he never did anything against anyone’s will and that the man he ate in March, 2001, 43-year-old engineer Bernd-Juergen Brandes, wanted to be killed and consumed.
The whole scenario was recorded on video by mutual agreement.
Prosecutors say he is guilty of murder for exploiting his victim’s apparent death wish. He faces life in prison if convicted.
Defence lawyers say he is guilty, at worst, of killing on demand, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Cannibalism itself is not a crime in Germany.
A verdict is due early next year.
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