Man faces charges in fatal stabbing of 63-year-old woman

A murder trial opened at the Luxembourg City court on Tuesday, with a 36-year-old man facing charges for the killing of a 63-year-old woman in May 2023.

The defendant is accused of strangling the victim with the cord of a hairdryer before fatally stabbing her in the chest. He has been charged with murder, or alternatively, manslaughter, in connection with the crime and has been held in Sanem prison since 13 May 2023.

"We had a big argument, and then it happened," the defendant said during his account of the events on 12 May 2023. According to his statement, the altercation escalated, culminating in the violent act.

An autopsy revealed that the stab wound to the chest caused the woman's death. Forensic experts noted that significant violence was also inflicted on her neck, leading to the possibility that the victim was unconscious when she was stabbed. The absence of defensive wounds on her body further supports this theory.

The fatal injury resulted in blood entering the pericardium, causing her heart to stop.

Substance use by both parties

Toxicology reports revealed the presence of alcohol and pharmaceuticals in both the victim and the accused. The victim had a relatively high concentration of alcohol, consistent with her reported habits, as well as a mix of sedatives and sleeping pills that may have impaired her reactions. However, due to her dependency, the substances would not have had the same impact as they might in a non-dependent individual.

For the perpetrator, toxicologists could not definitively determine his blood alcohol level at the time of the offence. However, traces in his hair suggested occasional cocaine use alongside regular consumption of sedatives and alcohol. Experts described his substance use as habitual but not excessive.

Difficult relationship between victim and defendant

The first day of the trial shed light on the troubled relationship between the victim and the defendant. The two met through the victim's daughter and continued to maintain a connection even after the defendant lost contact with the daughter.

A psychiatrist and a psychologist testified in court, describing the relationship as deeply ambivalent. On one hand, the defendant appeared to take on a caregiver role, attempting to support the victim, who struggled with alcohol and substance abuse. The experts suggested that by helping her, the defendant sought validation and recognition. At times, he even partially lived with the victim. The psychologist likened his behaviour toward the victim to that of a son caring for his mother.

On the other hand, the relationship was marked by frequent verbal abuse from the victim. She reportedly insulted the defendant and blamed him for his mother's death. According to the experts, these interactions left the defendant increasingly unable to manage his emotions, leading to a growing sense of frustration and anger.

On 12 May 2023, an argument escalated between the two. The defendant claimed that the victim chased him at one point with a kitchen knife. In response, he grabbed a hairdryer, showed it to her, and warned her that he would wrap the cord around her neck if she did not calm down. He proceeded to do so, and after the victim lost consciousness, he stabbed her.

The psychiatrist described the act as "overkill," attributing it to the defendant's uncontrollable anger. The expert rejected the possibility of a spontaneous, heat-of-the-moment reaction, arguing that the sequence of events – including the threat, three minutes of strangulation, and the subsequent stabbing – indicated a prolonged and deliberate act.

The psychiatrist concluded that the defendant experienced "alternating capacities for discernment and control" during the incident but assessed the risk of reoffending as relatively low. The expert suggested that the defendant's circumstances at the time – unemployment and social isolation – contributed significantly to his actions.

The evaluation also noted the defendant's low IQ, which likely impaired his ability to end the toxic relationship. Instead, he repeatedly sought the victim's approval, displaying what the psychiatrist described as "masochistic tendencies." The defendant's reliance on the victim, despite the abusive dynamics, highlighted his difficulty in breaking free from the relationship without external support.

After committing the act, the defendant drove to his father's home, where his father ultimately contacted the police.