American man admits to attacking 2 US tourists and killing one of them near a famous German castle

BERLIN — An American man admitted Monday to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two American women into a ravine, fatally wounding one of them near Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle last year.

The 31-year-old suspect admitted the charges at the start of his trial, the German news agency dpa reported. Defendants in the German legal system do not formally enter pleas to charges.

“The suspect committed an unfathomable crime,” attorney Philip Mueller said in a statement. The defendant, whose name has not been released in accordance with German privacy rules, confirmed that his lawyer’s statement was accurate but did not answer questions.

The suspect is charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography. Murder charges in Germany carry a maximum prison sentence of life in prison.

The attack took place on June 14 last year near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge near the castle overlooking Neuschwanstein, one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions.

Prosecutors say the defendant happened to meet the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking trail and lured them off the trail. They said in a statement that he apparently first forced the younger woman to the ground and tried to undress her.

When the elderly woman tried to help her, a scuffle ensued and the suspect allegedly pushed her down a steep slope. She fell about 50 meters (165 feet) and suffered head injuries, bruises and abrasions, but survived.

The suspect then allegedly strangled the younger woman until she was unconscious and raped her, prosecutors said, before also pushing her down the slope. She died.

Prosecutors said they recovered a laptop and cellphones from the suspect that contained child sexual abuse material.

Authorities say the women did not know the man before meeting near Neuschwanstein. The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack.

It is expected that a decision will be made by mid-March at the earliest.