'I didn't know what else to do', says defendant

On the second day of the murder trial involving a 36-year-old man accused of killing a 63-year-old woman in May 2023, the court focused on the motives behind the crime during Wednesday's session.

The defendant faces charges of murder, with manslaughter as an alternative charge.

The victim's death on 12 May 2023 marked the tragic end of a strained relationship between the then 34-year-old defendant and the 63-year-old woman. According to testimonies, the victim allegedly subjected the young man to repeated verbal abuse, despite his regular visits to assist her with daily chores.

On Wednesday morning, the defendant took the stand, speaking slowly and sparingly. He recounted that the victim "made me sleep under the letterbox, and I always forgave her." When pressed by the judge to explain why he tolerated the relationship, the defendant struggled to provide a clear answer. He revealed that the victim had repeatedly promised him money in exchange for his help but never followed through. He also described her family as his sole source of support during conflicts with his father, stating, "They were basically my only friends."

The defendant testified that the victim, her daughter, and the daughter's boyfriend had tried to persuade him to smoke crack, though he consistently refused. He admitted to consuming alcohol and strong pharmaceuticals with them, alleging that the victim's family obtained the drugs through their family doctor. "They simply called, said what they needed, and then they received it," he told the court.

Defendant: "It's as if I exploded"

An investigator outlined the hours leading up to the crime based on the defendant's statements during interrogations.

On 11 May 2023, tensions reportedly escalated when the victim's daughter and her boyfriend visited her home in Bonnevoie. According to the defendant, the trio smoked crack in the kitchen while he was left waiting in the living room. 
After the visitors left, the victim allegedly became aggressive and chased the defendant with a kitchen knife–the same weapon later used in the crime. The defendant claimed that neighbours, as they had done in the past, complained about the disturbance at the time.

However, this account was challenged during the trial. None of the neighbours reported hearing any commotion during the night of 11-12 May 2023, despite their history of calling the police over previous disputes. This discrepancy raises questions about whether the altercation was as severe as the defendant described or if the act was premeditated. Despite these doubts, the defendant stood by his version of events, stating that he "lost it" after the victim once again accused him of being responsible for his mother's death and called her passing "well-deserved."

The defendant testified that he then retrieved a hairdryer from the bathroom. Forensic experts estimate the victim's time of death to be between 12.30am and 2.30pm on 12 May 2023.

When questioned by the judge about why he did not leave the situation, the defendant struggled to explain. He claimed the victim locked the front door and hid the key in her underwear. The judge pressed him on why he did not attempt to retrieve the key instead of resorting to violence.

"I don't know," the defendant replied, glancing at his lawyer. "I just lost it," he said, adding, "I didn't know what else to do." He concluded by stating, "the cord was long."

During interrogations, the defendant stated that he strangled the victim with the hairdryer cord for approximately three minutes. "I just wanted her to be quiet," he told the court. He claimed to have checked the victim's pulse afterward and, despite finding none, proceeded to grab a 20- to 25-centimetre-long kitchen knife that was lying on a nearby table. "It's as if I exploded," he said, describing how he then plunged the knife into the victim's chest. When questioned about his actions, the defendant was unable to explain why he had done so.

After the attack, the defendant allegedly dragged the victim's body from the living room to the bedroom, covering her with blankets to avoid looking at her. Before leaving the home, he took the hairdryer, the victim's mobile phone, and her credit card. The judge suggested this appeared to be a calculated act, but, again, the defendant could not provide a clear explanation for his actions. In an interview with our colleagues from RTL Télé, the defendant's lawyer, Daniel Baulisch, expressed concern that the court might uphold the murder charge, even though, in his view, the legal criteria for murder have not been met.

Defendant's father calls the police

The defendant told police that he confessed the killing to his father, asking for help to dispose of the body. Instead, his father contacted the police, who subsequently took the defendant into custody.

The defendant's father testified that he was not fully aware of the strained relationship between his son and the victim. However, he suggested that his son may have sought a maternal figure in the victim following the death of his own mother.

The father also provided background on the defendant's family situation, explaining that the defendant's mother had struggled with depression in the time leading up to her death, exacerbated by her second husband's actions. According to the father, the mother had signed several powers of attorney granting her second husband control over her real estate agency, which he allegedly abused.

Defendant's decline after mother's death

Multiple witnesses told police that the defendant's mental health deteriorated significantly after his mother's death in 2021. His father described him as a once-talented hairdresser who had also worked as a waiter at a bakery and a butcher's shop. However, during his mother's illness, the defendant began drinking heavily and stopped working altogether after her passing.

Another witness characterised the defendant as a kind and gentle person who "could never harm a fly" but acknowledged that his excessive alcohol consumption had changed him.