Violent crimes in Bramsche: Murder suspect was already known for stalking

A young woman meets her suspected murderer at a birthday party in Bramsche over the weekend.

Violent crimes in Bramsche: Murder suspect was already known for stalking

A young woman meets her suspected murderer at a birthday party in Bramsche over the weekend. A short time later, a 20-year-old was arrested. So far he has been silent. The suspect has been known to the police since 2020.

The alleged murderer of a 19-year-old who was killed in Bramsche has been investigated for stalking in the past. The procedure for re-enactment was discontinued in 2020 after the public prosecutor's office had completed an educational measure, said the spokesman for the Osnabrück public prosecutor's office, Alexander Retemeyer. The 20-year-old German is in custody on suspicion of murder in the Hamelin youth facility. The young woman he is said to have pursued in 2020 was not the 19-year-old who was killed, Retemeyer said.

The 19-year-old was found seriously injured in a meadow near the Bramsche-Pente shooting range early Sunday morning. Her death was pronounced at the hospital. Like her alleged murderer, the young woman had previously been a guest at a birthday party in the Schützenhalle. Both are said to have known each other. "We do not know when they met," said the spokesman for the authorities. Based on the way the young woman's body was found, investigators also assume a sex crime. As part of the investigation, an expert opinion will be obtained as to whether the 20-year-old suspect has a maturity delay, said Retemeyer. In the case of 18 to 21-year-old adolescents, juvenile or adult criminal law may apply. Only for adults does the law carry a life sentence for murder.

The suspect, who has no criminal record, remains silent on the allegations, the spokesman said. The investigation is expected to take several months. Among other things, this involves the evaluation of DNA traces and the questioning of witnesses, which had already begun on the night of the crime. The homicide squad also wants to evaluate mobile phone data. The small town of Bramsche was shaken by two crimes within a few days.

A week ago, on March 1st, a 16-year-old from Bramsche died as a result of his gunshot wounds. An 81-year-old neighbor had shot the student the day before and then injured himself. An arrest warrant for murder and attempted manslaughter was issued against the Italian. He is said to have aimed the gun at the boy's mother. "Everyone you talk to is very concerned," said Bramsche's mayor Heiner Pahlmann.

A citizen spoke of a "leaden heaviness" that weighed on everyone. Among other things, it should now be agreed with representatives of the church and fire brigade whether there should be a mourning event or a public book of condolences. In Bramsche there are no special milieus that would be difficult, no high crime rate, said the mayor. One thought: "Here is the North German lowlands. Here is a perfect world."