The girls who stabbed to death a 12-year-old child in Germany could be locked up in a psychiatric ward or sued for damages by the victim’s family – but the 13- and 12-year-old killers cannot be prosecuted.
Luise was stabbed more than 30 times with ‘a nail file’ in ‘revenge’ after telling an adult that her attackers had bullied her for months, according to the German newspaper Image.
Other theories include that she was killed after arguing over a boy.
Her body was found a week ago, on March 12, in a pool of blood in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg on the same day one of her killers allegedly posted a dance video to TikTok.
Under German law, children under the age of 14 are criminally responsible and cannot be charged – but there are other ways to punish Luise’s killers.
The girls have now left Freudenberg and could be “in an institution with teenage support, possibly a psychiatric ward,” Judge Thorsten Schleif said. Image.
The victim, known only as Luise (pictured), was found Sunday in a pool of blood in a wooded area near the town of Freudenberg, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, after being stabbed more than 30 times
Luise (pictured), 12, 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 bullying her for months, according to German newspaper Bild. Other theories include that she was killed after arguing over a boy
Whether they are placed in a closed facility depends on whether they are considered a danger to themselves or others, he added, which will be determined by the child protection services responsible for the 13- and 12-year-old.
Cell phones and leaving the grounds of the closed facility would be prohibited, with set times for school and therapy.
The girls could also be ordered to pay damages to Luise’s family as soon as they make money – an order that could be valid for 30 years.
Children as young as seven can be sentenced to pay damages under German civil law, provided the child knew they were doing something ‘harmful’.
Getting a new identity to start a new life in another city will also be unlikely for the young attackers: “It is neither mandatory nor the rule,” Judge Schleif explained.
The girls and their families will probably leave Freudenberg permanently.
Child therapist Miriam Hoff doesn’t believe the girls can quickly return to a ‘normal life’: ‘It will take years of therapy to overcome such a crime.
‘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 they both grew up within good social structures and if they act in the heat of the moment, they will be faced with guilt over their actions throughout their lives.’
But he also told Bild that the brutality and lack of remorse point to a deliberate act: “Luise’s death was not an accident. She was not pushed into 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 teenage girls depends on child protective services, which will decide how to deal with the girls responsible for Luise’s murder, Ms Hoff said.
Flowers and candles were placed where Luise’s body was found in the woods near Freudenberg
Luise’s disappearance led to a frantic search 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 on the best course of action, one should also involve the parents, explains Dr. Wunsch.
They would be asked if they were signs of growing conflict behavior in the girls, how the girls acquired the murder weapon, and how the parents can live on as a family after their children’s actions.
In the face of growing demands to lower the age of criminal liability in Germany, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said Picture on Sunday: ‘Such serious crimes cannot go unnoticed.
“Children under the age of 14 will not be prosecuted. However, our justice system already has the resources to respond to serious acts of violence committed by children under the age of 14.”
Those means include referring attackers to closed institutions or homes on psychiatric wards.
Other means include helping the parents raise their children or placing the girls in foster care – the latter only with the consent of a family court of the parents themselves.
According to media reports, the 13 and 12-year-old are currently away from their families, likely in child protection shelters. They are reportedly still in contact with their families.
Luise went missing on Saturday afternoon, March 11, after a Friday-Saturday sleepover with the 13-year-old friend at her home, in the Hohenhain district of the city, two miles from Luise’s own home.
Though they had known each other for years, took the school bus together, and were even in the same class at school, it’s not clear why Luise and her killer met in light of the bullying allegations.
Later that day, the 12-year-old joined in and the trio walked to a nearby forest. There they allegedly stabbed Luise 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 Saturday afternoon, sparking a massive police search in the area.
The two girls, spotted by a neighbor as they walked into the woods with Luise, “made statements about the case and eventually admitted the crime,” said Florian Locker, head of the homicide unit of the Koblenz police. .
Luise went missing on Saturday afternoon, March 11, after a Friday-Saturday sleepover with the 13-year-old boyfriend at her home, in the Hohenhain district of the city, two miles from Luise’s own home.
A book of condolence for Luise and a card reading ‘We mourn for Luise’ are on display at the Protestant church in Freudenberg
After the stabbing, the girls returned to the 13-year-old’s home, where the younger girl was later picked up by her father.
Afterwards, the older girl called Luise’s parents and told them a story of lies, saying that Luise was on her way home at 5:30 pm and wanted to let her know as soon as she arrived.
Because Luise hadn’t called, the 13-year-old allegedly called her several times because she was “worryed” for her, knowing where Luise really was: stabbed and left for dead in the woods.
Police said the two girls gave conflicting statements during the search and later during interrogation and finally confessed on Monday, March 13.
The two girls went to the same school as Luise and were said to be friends.
The suspects’ parents have moved away for the time being, but are still in contact with their daughters.
Luise’s disappearance led to a frantic search 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 on Monday, March 20, they had given up on the search for the murder weapon – reportedly a nail file – after failing to find it after a week-long search.
In the Protestant church in Freudenberg there is a book of condolence for Luise and a card with the text ‘We mourn for Luise’.