Two girls aged 12 and 13 are accused of stabbing the latter’s best friend, 12, to death in the woods in Germany because she had made fun of her family.

Victim Luise F. failed to return to her home in the town of Freudenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia State, on 11th March.

Earlier that day, she had been at her best friend’s house in the village of Hohenhain.

Her parents tried to call her, but she did not pick up her phone. Hours later, they reported her disappearance to the police, prompting a massive search.

Luise’s body was found in an area of woodland near a disused train station in Wildenburg, some two kilometres (1.2 miles) from her home, the next afternoon.

It was covered in stab wounds.

An autopsy later gave her cause of death as exsanguination.

Senior public prosecutor Mario Mannweiler said at a press conference on 14th March: “The investigations carried out so far confirm the suspicion that the girl was the victim of a homicide.”

Investigators were stunned when they questioned the victim’s friends and peers and found glaring contradictions in two girls’ version of events.

Homicide Department Head Florian Locker, said: “The children then admitted to the crime. Their statements could also be supported by evidence.”

Local media report that the girls, who are under the age of criminal responsibility, have been removed from their families and school and placed in a state facility.

Police say the 13-year-old suspect was Luise’s best friend, whose family home she had been at on the day of the crime.

Investigators believe she forced the younger suspect to take part in the crime.

Commenting on the possible motive, Mannweiler said: “What may be a motive for a child to commit a deed may not necessarily be apparent to an adult.”

But, referring to the horrifying number of perforations to the victim’s body, he said it was likely “some emotions played a role”.

According to unconfirmed reports, the stabbing happened during a heated argument that began when the victim made fun of her best friend’s family.

It remains unclear why the girls went to the woods.

After killing Luise, the two girls returned to the 13-year-old’s house, where the father of the 12-year-old picked her up.

Then, the 13-year-old called Luise’s parents to tell her she had left for home – a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) walk away – at 5.30pm.

Mannweiler told local media: “We are now placing this case in the hands of the youth authorities.”

Luise was a pupil at Esther Bejarano Comprehensive School in Freudenberg.

The investigation, including the search for the murder weapon, continues.