Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
A poacher accused of murdering two German police officers finished off a female rookie cop with a headshot at point-blank range when he realised she was still alive after a fierce gun battle with her partner, according to prosecutors.
The cold-blooded double shooting – which claimed the lives of rookie Yasmin B., 24, and chief inspector Alexander K., 29 – took place during a routine traffic stop near Ulmet, in western Germany, at around 4.20 am on 31st January.
The Kaiserslautern public prosecutor’s office charged suspect Andreas S., 38, with murder and his alleged accomplice Florian V., 32, with poaching.
It is believed that Andreas killed the pair so they would not find out that they had been hunting illegally.
A later search of the vehicle found it to be loaded with the carcasses of wild animals.
Public prosecutors say Andreas fired a shotgun at Yasmin’s head from close range, with the poacher believing she was dead.
He then turned his gun on her colleague Alexander from a greater distance, hitting him in the buttocks.
The senior cop returned fire with his handgun, but prosecutors say Andreas shot him “three times with a hunting rifle and seriously injured him each time”.
The last, fatal shot hit him in the head.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, Andreas then searched Yasmin for her notebook but realised she was still alive.
It was then, say prosecutors, that he “fired another shot at her head with the shotgun”, finishing her off.
This is why, in addition to two counts of murder, the public prosecutor’s office also accuses Andreas of attempted murder with dangerous bodily harm, and resisting and assaulting law enforcement officers.
Andreas is currently in pre-trial custody and has refused to comment on the allegations against him.
The public prosecutor believes he “essentially made his living from poaching and selling the prey” and that he killed the police officers so he could continue to ply his illicit trade.
In addition to poaching, Florian is suspected of attempting to frustrate criminal prosecution by helping Andreas to wipe out evidence.
The shotgun and the hunting rifle used in the crime were seized by the police when the suspects were arrested in Sulzbach just hours later.
They were found to be legally owned by Andreas’ wife.
The Kaiserslautern public prosecutor’s office is now investigating the wife for negligent homicide and violation of gun laws.
The district court of Kaiserslautern has not yet announced if or when the suspects will go on trial, but local media report that a trial may take place over 10 hearings between 21st June and 21st July.
Andreas reportedly faces life behind bars.
