Overview

• A 24-year-old man was convicted by the Mainz Schwurgericht of attempting to murder his pregnant girlfriend and her family through arson.
• The attack, driven by jealousy and doubts about the unborn child's paternity, endangered six residents of a multi-family home in Gau-Algesheim.
• The court sentenced the defendant to seven years in prison, rejecting his claim that he intended to self-immolate out of despair.
• The victim had endured two years of domestic abuse and fled to her parents the day before the attack, prompting the defendant to escalate his threats.
• Shortly before setting fire to a trash bag at the victim's door, the defendant sent a message reading 'It’s about to happen' and was arrested hours later.