Brutal attack in Neumünster: attempted murder trial begins!

Brutal attack in Neumünster: attempted murder trial begins!

A trial is being held at the Kiel regional court against five defendants for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. The group of seven, aged between 17 and 32, is responsible for a brutal attack on a 37-year-old man on January 5, 2025. The attack stems from an argument between the later victim and the mother of four of the defendants kn online reported.

The incident occurred around 8:35 p.m. when the defendants lured the victim out of a house on Schützenstrasse under a pretext. The 37-year-old defended himself with an ice pick while a 32-year-old defendant stabbed him with a knife. A stitch remained in the victim's arm. The perpetrator, armed with a carpenter's hammer, inflicted serious injuries on the man by hitting him several times in the head and upper body. As senior public prosecutor Achim Hackethal noted, the defendants were aware that such beatings could be life-threatening.

Brutality on Schützenstrasse

The attack ended in bloody chaos: the victim fell to the ground, bleeding profusely, where the defendants continued to kick him. They apparently had no intention of leaving their victim alive, and the presiding judge indicated that a conviction for attempted murder was even on the cards. The lowly motivated motivations and the insidiousness could play a role.

The defendants did not comment on the allegations at the beginning of the trial, but could possibly take a stand during the trial. The trial continues this week and the victim is expected to testify. A total of nine further trial dates have already been scheduled, with a possible verdict already planned for February 19, 2024.

Knife attacks – a growing problem

Another worrying example of violence in northern Germany is a knife attack that took place in Kiel's pedestrian zone in January 2025. The Kiel public prosecutor's office is investigating two cases of attempted murder. A 25-year-old suspect who was arrested at the beginning of February is now in the Neumünster correctional facility. These incidents are part of an alarming trend that is evident in police crime statistics.

In 2024, violent crime nationwide rose by 1.5% to 217,277 cases - the highest level since 2007. Specific numbers on knife attacks were also recorded for the first time, with 29,014 cases, over half of which were violent crimes. An alarming signal, like the numbers from bka.de show.

Given these developments, it is clear that the public should keep an eye on judicial guidelines to ensure that acts of violence do not go unpunished and that perpetrators are held accountable. It remains to be hoped that the courts will continue to demonstrate a good hand in reaching judgments in the future.