Is the father accountable for the incident?

The father of a seven-year-old boy, who was murdered with a kitchen knife in September 2023, is currently on trial for the second time. The defendant, a 48-year-old man, is dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, with a translator next to him who translates into Turkish.

The man was initially sentenced to a 13-year prison term by the Bremen Regional Court in April 2024. However, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has partially reversed this decision, questioning the reasoning for the reduced guilt of the man.

According to the evidence presented, the defendant had given his son dissolved sleeping pills in an iced tea before taking his life with a kitchen knife. The BGH believes that the assumption of significantly restricted control ability was not sufficiently carried out during the initial trial.

The defendant, who had a diagnosis of moderate depression with a schizoaffective disorder during the first trial, attempted to take his own life after the crime. He has been in psychiatric treatment since 2015.

The son was with his father for the weekend before the murder occurred. The motive for the murder reportedly stemmed from the defendant's belief that the child's mother had a new partner who was involved with drugs, and he wanted to spare the child a life as a drug addict.

The mother of the child will be questioned again as a witness at a later date during the trial. She previously testified tearfully that the defendant had completely ruined their life. The son's mother is a co-plaintiff and appeared composed during the trial.

If the man is found fully guilty this time, he could be sent to prison instead of a psychiatric clinic. The trial will continue on September 17, and the defense attorney announced that the defendant wants to speak then.

Unfortunately, the search results do not provide any information about the witness who is to be questioned again in the trial. It is unclear what new evidence or testimony this witness may bring to light.

The case has left the public in shock, with many questioning how a father could take the life of his own child. The trial is a tragic reminder of the importance of seeking help for mental health issues and the dangers of domestic violence.