81-year-old man admits to killing US tourist in Germany 30 years ago

Admission in court

An 81-year-old man has admitted to sexually assaulting and killing an American tourist in Germany more than 30 years ago, at the opening of his trial on Tuesday. The defendant, whose name has not been disclosed in line with German privacy rules, confessed to the 1994 killing of 24-year-old Amy Lopez in the western German city of Koblenz, as reported by the Associated Press and the BBC.

During the session in the Koblenz district court, the defense lawyer, Volker Klein, said the defendant admitted fully to the crime. When the presiding judge, Rupert Stehlin, asked the man if that was true, he nodded and said “yes.” The BBC identified the defendant as Hans S, noting that he entered the courtroom with a walking frame and confirmed the admission in response to the judge's question.

The crime

Amy Lopez, from Texas, was last seen alive in September 1994, heading for Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz while on a tour of Europe. Her body was found at the site two hours later, according to the BBC. The Associated Press reports that the crime took place on Sept. 26, 1994, when Lopez was visiting the city as a tourist.

Prosecutors accuse the man — who was 49 at the time — of luring Lopez under false pretenses into a secluded room of the fortress. The BBC specifies this as the General von Aster room, a secluded area beneath the fortress. There, he allegedly handcuffed her, sexually assaulted her, and killed her with nine knife wounds to the chest area. The Associated Press adds that he also strangled her with a belt and struck her on the left side of her head with a rock when she tried to defend herself and shouted. Children playing nearby found Lopez’s body shortly afterward.

Prosecutors have accused the man of killing in a treacherous manner and for base motives in order to satisfy his sexual urges, a formulation reported by both outlets.

The investigation

The case remained unsolved for decades. The Associated Press reports that investigators eventually analyzed old DNA traces using new methods, leading to a breakthrough, with DNA found on the victim’s waistband and thigh linked to the man. The BBC provides additional detail: four years ago, a DNA trace was detected on fragments of skin found on the victim's trousers due to improved forensic techniques. Koblenz authorities set up a special cold-case investigation team last year, and the case was highlighted on a national TV unsolved crime show, according to the BBC. Police began taking saliva samples from volunteers, leading to a clear DNA match.

The BBC also reports that the suspect had a 1999 conviction for a sexual offense, but police lacked sufficient DNA evidence at that time to link him to the 1994 killing. The suspect's lawyer said the case weighed heavily on him and he wanted closure.

Prosecutors believe the attacker met Lopez by chance on the steep path to the fortress, the BBC reports.

Trial and expected verdict

The man was arrested in late February at a nursing home in the Koblenz area, according to the Associated Press, which also notes he has been in pretrial detention since. The BBC describes the location as a retirement home. The court was packed for the first day of the trial, an indication of the notorious nature of the murder in the Koblenz area, according to the BBC.

An expert psychiatric opinion commissioned by prosecutors considers the suspect criminally responsible for his actions, but a final opinion will not come until the end of the trial, the BBC reports.

Regarding the timeline for a verdict, the Associated Press reports that eight trial days have been scheduled and a verdict is expected in September. The BBC says a verdict is expected early next month. The discrepancy in the expected timeline remains unresolved in the reporting.

Perspectives

Prosecution: The prosecution accuses the defendant of luring Lopez into a secluded area, where he sexually assaulted her and killed her, acting to satisfy his sexual urges. They consider him criminally responsible.

Defense: The defense lawyer stated that the defendant admitted fully to the crime, and the suspect's lawyer noted that the case weighed heavily on him and he wanted closure.

Court: The presiding judge confirmed the admission in court, and the trial continues with an expected verdict later this year or early next month, depending on the source.