The Katzenkönig case (German: Katzenkönigfall) is one of the most prominent and often cited examples of German penal law. It was determined by the Bundesgerichtshof on 15 September 1988.[1]
Background
editAs determined by the lower court, Peter P., Barbara H. and the police officer Michael R. were living together in a "neurotic partnership", characterized by "mysticism, illusions and misconception". P. and H. managed to convince the gullible R. that a "cat king" (German: Katzenkönig) exists which has been the incarnation of evil for thousands of year and which threatens the world.
After learning in 1986 that her ex-boyfriend is marrying Annemarie N., H. managed to convince R., with help from P., that the cat king demands that he kills N. as a human sacrifice to atone for his many sins; otherwise H. would have to leave him and humanity or at least millions of people would be killed by the cat king. R., who knew killing another human is illegal and despite pricks of conscience, agreed to do so in order to prevent the death of many other people.
Armed with P.'s sheath knife, R. entered N.'s flower shop on 30 July 1986 and stabbed her twelve times in the neck, face and body. When others came to help her, he fled the scene but assumed she would die from her wounds. N. survived with multiple serious injuries.
References
edit- ^ Bundesgerichtshof (15 September 1988). "Katzenkönig" (in German). BGHSt 35, 347. DFR.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)