Overview

• The trial of an 85-year-old man accused of smothering his chronically ill wife began at the Landgericht Mühlhausen on May 8, 2025.
• The defendant confessed to killing his wife, stating he wanted to end her suffering from a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
• Prosecutors allege the act was premeditated, claiming the wife woke up and resisted before being smothered to death.
• The court is considering charges of murder, manslaughter, or killing on request, with four additional hearings scheduled through early June.
• The case highlights the strain of caregiving and raises broader debates about euthanasia, eldercare, and legal definitions of intent.