Overview
- The Landgericht Aschaffenburg ruled the defendant was not criminally responsible and ordered his placement in a closed psychiatric hospital under a Sicherungsverfahren.
- Prosecutors, the defense and representatives of the victims all sought the unbounded hospital measure rather than a prison sentence.
- Court expert Hans-Peter Volz diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, said the man heard commands to kill children, and warned of likely further highly aggressive acts without treatment.
- The commitment has no set end date and will be reviewed at least annually, with any release dependent on experts deeming him no longer dangerous.
- On January 22 in the Schöntal park, he killed a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old helper and injured three others with a kitchen knife; his lawyer acknowledged the acts, and reporting highlights earlier police and psychiatric incidents, irregular medication and a failed deportation.