An “extremely jealous” husband has gone on trial for choking his beauty-pageant-winning wife to death with his bare hands because she wanted a separation before faking a search for her to throw cops off the scent.
Patrick S., 27, turned up to his trial for dangerous bodily harm and murder for base motives, which began on 12th October at the Darmstadt Regional Court, still wearing his wedding ring.
He was taken into preventive custody shortly after the dead body of his wife, 27-year-old Jennifer S., was found in a thicket in the community of Biebesheim am Rhein in February.
According to the prosecution, there had been significant marital problems because of the defendant’s “extreme jealousy and lack of self-control”.
According to the indictment, Patrick often tried to frighten Jennifer, who was crowned ‘City Princess’ of the town of Lampertheim in 2017, to then play the role of saviour.
He is said to have disguised himself as a burglar and stabbed her twice with a kitchen knife in front of their then-five-year-old son in January last year.
The case was dropped after Jennifer refused to testify in court. However, she told paramedics and police officers shortly after the alleged crime that she recognised the attacker as her husband.
It was on 27th February this year that Patrick is believed to have choked Jennifer to death with his bare hands, allegedly because of her wish to separate from him.
He subsequently sent a message from her mobile phone to her sister talking about a “walk on the Rhine”, according to news outlet Bild.
He then reportedly faked a search for her in the area, assuming it would rule him out as a suspect.
On the alleged motive, the indictment read: “Because he couldn’t have her, no one else should have her either.”
The defendant, who is a qualified painter, remained silent during the proceedings. He has previously denied both crimes.
The trial is ongoing.
