Girls who stabbed a 12-year-old boy to death in Germany could be locked up in a psychiatric ward or sued for compensation by the victim’s family, but 13-year-old and 12-year-old attackers cannot be prosecuted.
Luise was stabbed more than 30 times with ‘a nail file’ in ‘revenge’ after she told an adult her attackers had been harassing her for months, according to a German newspaper. image. Other theories include that she was killed after fighting over a child.
Her body was found in a pool of blood a week ago, on March 12, in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg on the same day one of her killers posted a dance video on TikTok.
Under German law, children under the age of 14 do not have the age of criminal responsibility and cannot be charged, but there are other means to punish Luise’s murderers.
The girls have now left Freudenberg and could be “in an institution with support for adolescents, possibly a psychiatric ward,” judge Thorsten Schleif said. image.
The victim, known only as Luise (pictured), was found in a pool of blood on Sunday in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, after she was stabbed more than once. of 30 times.
12-year-old Luise (pictured) was stabbed more than 30 times with ‘a nail file’ by two girls aged 13 and 12 ‘in revenge’ after she told an adult they had been harassing her for months, according to the German newspaper Bild. Other theories include that she was killed after fighting over a child.
Whether they will be housed in a closed facility depends on whether they consider themselves a danger to themselves or others, he added, which will be determined by child protective services responsible for 13- and 12-year-olds.
Mobile phones and leaving the premises of the closed facility would be prohibited, with set times for school and therapy.
The girls could also be ordered to pay compensation to Luise’s family as soon as they earn money, an order that could be valid for 30 years.
Children aged seven and over, on the condition that the child was aware that they were doing something ‘harmful’, can be ordered to pay damages under German civil law.
Obtaining a new identity to start a new life in another city will also be unlikely for young muggers: “It’s not mandatory or the rule,” Judge Schleif explained.
The girls and their families are likely to move away from Freudenberg permanently.
Child therapist Miriam Hoff doesn’t think the girls can return to a “normal life” any time soon: “It will take years of therapy to get over a crime like that.
‘Also crucial: Do the perpetrators have personality disorders that manifested themselves early on? Or do they have a history of mental illness?’ she said.
Another psychologist, Dr. Albert Wunsch, added: “If both of you grew up within good social structures and if you acted on the spur of the moment, you will face feelings of guilt for your actions throughout your life.”
But he also told Bild that the brutality and lack of remorse points to a conscious act: ‘Luise’s death was not an accident. She wasn’t pushed in a fight and hit her head. Many things indicate that it was not an act in the heat of the moment.
The future of the two teenagers depends on child protective services, who will decide how the girls responsible for Luise’s murder should be treated, according to Ms Hoff.
Flowers and candles were placed where Luise’s body was found in the woods near Freudenberg.
Luise’s disappearance sparked a frantic search operation involving a helicopter, sniffer dogs and drones. When she was found dead with multiple stab wounds, the community in the small town of just 18,000 was shocked.
To decide the best course of action, parents would also need to be involved, Dr. Wunsch explained.
They would be asked if there were signs of increasing conflict behavior in the girls, how the girls accessed the murder weapon, and how parents can live as a family after their children’s actions.
In light of the growing demands to lower the age of criminal responsibility in Germany, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said picture sunday: ‘Such serious crimes cannot go unnoticed.
‘Children under the age of 14 are not prosecuted. However, our legal system already has the means to react to serious acts of violence by children under the age of 14.’
Those means include referring offenders to closed institutions or homes in psychiatric wards.
Other means might include helping parents raise their children or placing girls in foster care, the latter only with the approval of a family court from the parents themselves.
According to media reports, the 13- and 12-year-olds are living away from their families at the moment, likely in child protective services accommodation. They are reportedly still in contact with their families.
Luise disappeared on Saturday afternoon, March 11, after a Friday-Saturday sleepover with the 13-year-old friend at her home in the city’s Hohenhain district, two miles from Luise’s own home.
Though they’ve known each other for years, rode the school bus together and were even in the same class at school, it’s unclear why Luise and her killer met in light of the bullying allegations.
Later that day, the 12-year-old boy joined in and the trio walked into a nearby forest. There Luise was allegedly stabbed more than 30 times with a knife in a case that has shocked Germany.
Luise’s body was found in the woods the next day, March 12, after her parents reported the girl missing on Saturday afternoon, prompting a massive police search of the area.
The two girls, who were seen by a neighbor while walking through the woods with Luise, “made statements about the matter and eventually admitted to the crime,” said Florian Locker, head of the Koblenz police’s homicide department.
Luise disappeared on the afternoon of Saturday, March 11, after a Friday-Saturday sleepover with the 13-year-old friend at her home in the city’s Hohenhain district, two miles from Luise’s own home.
A book of condolences for Luise and a card reading “We mourn Luise” are on display at Freudenberg’s Protestant church.
After the stabbing, the girls returned to the 13-year-old’s home, where her father later picked up the younger girl.
Subsequently, the older girl called Luise’s parents and told them a story of lies, saying that Luise started coming home at 5:30 pm and wanted to let her know once she had arrived.
Since Luise had not called, the 13-year-old girl allegedly called her multiple times because she was “worried” about her, while knowing where Luise really was: stabbed and left to die in the woods.
Police said that during the search and subsequent questioning, the two girls made conflicting statements and both finally confessed on Monday, March 13.
The two girls attended the same school as Luise and were said to be friends.
The parents of the suspects have moved on for the time being but are still in contact with their daughters.
Luise’s disappearance sparked a frantic search operation involving a helicopter, sniffer dogs and drones. When she was found dead with multiple stab wounds, the community in the small town of just 18,000 was shocked.
Police said Monday, March 20, that they have given up trying to find the murder weapon, said to be a nail file, after failing to locate it after a week-long search.
A condolence book for Luise and a card reading “We mourn Luise” are on display in the Freudenberg Protestant church.