Cologne (dpa / lnw) - After a night attack with a heavy ax on his parents, a 29-year-old in Cologne was sentenced to twelve years in prison. The regional court found him guilty on Tuesday of attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm. The reason given was that there was absolutely no doubt about his perpetration. The man had admitted the blows with a splitting ax on his father and mother in the process.
According to the verdict, there had always been disputes in the family home in Wermelskirchen. The father repeatedly confronted his son, who had isolated himself in his room and had not worked, with the question of how he wanted to live and work. The accused again felt "bossed". He felt contempt and hatred for his parents.
The action then took place in the early morning of October 1, 2021, as the court determined. The son decided to kill his parents, sneaked into their bedroom with an ax and struck. Among other things, he left the message on a note: "Go to hell, you bastards."
The parents survived the attack despite serious injuries. After the crime, the son jumped off a bridge onto a freeway. He too survived. He followed Tuesday's sentencing in a wheelchair. During the trial, he protested that he only wanted to hurt his parents, not kill them.
The judge spoke to the German's conscience. It is a prison sentence, but there is also the possibility of probation - with appropriate behavior. "It's up to you now to make something of your life," the judge said. The 29-year-old spent large parts of his young life "on the diving station". "You have to arrive at midlife. And that means taking care of yourself. That means working."
