Overview

• The Landgericht Offenburg convicted a 43-year-old former patient of murdering his 37-year-old psychotherapist and imposed a life sentence.
• The court formally found besondere Schwere der Schuld, which makes early release after 15 years highly unlikely in practice.
• Preventive detention was reserved for potential use after the prison term, pending future assessments.
• Prosecutors said the attack occurred in February near her workplace in Offenburg and involved 38 stab wounds, and the woman died at the scene.
• The victim had ended work with the man after earlier sessions and had received death threats in late 2023, and the defendant holds German and French citizenship.