Germany: Man gets life in jail for US tourist's rape, murder
The crime was unsolved for over three decades before new DNA proof made it possible to arrest and convict the now 81-year-old. His victim, Amy Lopez, was 24 at the time of her murder.
In a German court on Friday, an 81-year-old man received a life sentence for the 1994 rape and murder of a 24-year-old American tourist. The convicted individual, identified as Hans S., was apprehended this year through the application of contemporary DNA technology. The victim's remains were discovered in September 1994 near the historic Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, Germany, by children playing in the vicinity. Her body displayed stab wounds, severe head injuries, and indications of strangulation.
The regional court in Koblenz determined that Hans S. had lured the victim into a secluded building, falsely promising to guide her to a hostel. He then proceeded to tie her up, rape her, and subsequently stab her nine times. The court concluded that Hans S. was actively seeking a victim to rape, and that the unfortunate incident occurred due to the victim being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The defendant confessed to the crime in general terms, though he was not explicitly accused of guilt by the court.
The courtroom was filled with observers, including Amy Lopez's father and brother, who attended the trial until its conclusion. Amy's father and brother expressed that they had never managed to find inner peace during the lengthy process, as the perpetrator remained at large. Their lawyer, Kathrin Kienle, noted that the verdict could not reverse the tragic event or bring Amy back. However, she acknowledged the emotional relief experienced by the victim's family.
Hans S. had a history of sexual offenses, having served prison sentences totaling several years, some of which occurred after the 1994 incident. His DNA had been recorded since his 1999 conviction for attempting to rape a 16-year-old girl, although it was subsequently removed from the database. Police managed to obtain a new saliva sample from the defendant, which matched a DNA trace found on the victim's clothing.
Hans S.'s lawyer revealed that he willingly provided the DNA sample in pursuit of clarity, describing his crime as an immense burden on him.
Upon the verdict, defense lawyer Volker Klein announced he had no intention of appealing or seeking a review.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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