A 47-year-old man went on trial in Luxembourg City on Friday, accused of murder, manslaughter, and attempted manslaughter following the brutal killing of a 32-year-old woman in December 2022.

"Under the eyes of God, I killed Lucifer," the accused said in court on the first day of proceedings. The forensic details presented in court revealed the extreme violence of the crime. The victim's head and arms had been severed, her body was undressed, and parts of her skin were found in a bag next to the remains. The cause of death was stab wounds to the neck, while the other injuries were inflicted post-mortem.

According to the forensic pathologist, the nature of the wounds suggested the perpetrator suffered from delusions and believed the victim was possessed. The concentration of stab wounds around the eyes was consistent with the behaviour of a psychotic patient, a conclusion supported by the psychiatric evaluation.

The accused had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was hospitalised in a psychiatric facility in Ettelbruck due to his delusions. He had been stabilised with medication, worked in a therapeutic workshop, lived in a supervised therapeutic apartment, and continued to receive treatment.

However, as his condition improved, he was required to leave the therapeutic setting and moved into a shared flat in Bonnevoie. A few months later, the killing took place.

It remains unclear why the accused suffered a relapse. The psychiatric expert testified that due to his condition, he was unable to distinguish between good and evil and was convinced he was doing "good" through his actions. The key question for the court is whether he can be held criminally responsible for the killing.

The trial is set to continue next week.