A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, six of which are suspended, for the killing of a 63-year-old woman in Bonnevoie in May 2023. The verdict, delivered by the Luxembourg City court, aligns with the prosecution’s request. The man was found guilty of manslaughter in the first instance.
The court heard that the defendant strangled the victim with a hairdryer cord before stabbing her with a kitchen knife. Forensic experts concluded that the fatal blow was likely the stab wound to the heart, inflicted with a kitchen knife measuring 20 to 25 centimetres in length.
In addition to the prison sentence, the victim’s daughter was awarded €25,000 in damages. The verdict is not yet final, as the convict has 40 days to appeal.
During the trial in early January, details emerged about the hours leading up to the incident. The court heard that the defendant and the victim had a toxic relationship, exacerbated by alcohol and substance abuse. Both individuals were found to have consumed these substances at the time of the incident. The victim was described as having frequently verbally abused and humiliated the defendant. The two had met through the victim’s daughter.
When questioned about his motive, the defendant testified that he “lost it” and “didn’t know what else to do.” He described feeling as though he “exploded” during the altercation. After strangling the victim for approximately three minutes, he proceeded to stab her, leading to her death.
After the killing, the defendant dragged the victim from the living room to the bedroom and covered her with blankets. He then drove to his father’s home, where he confessed to the crime. His father subsequently alerted the police.
During the trial, a psychiatric expert testified that the defendant experienced “alternating capacities for discernment and control” at the time of the incident. However, the expert assessed the risk of reoffending as relatively low. The psychiatrist also characterised the defendant’s relationship with the victim as “masochistic.”
The prosecution emphasised the need for ongoing monitoring due to the defendant’s diminished capacity for discernment. They requested that any suspended portion of the sentence be probationary, with conditions such as mandatory psycho-social follow-up.
In their ruling, the judges concluded that the homicide was not premeditated. They also mandated that the 36-year-old defendant undergo psychiatric treatment to address his dependency issues as part of his sentence.
Bonnevoie murder trial: Man faces charges in fatal stabbing of 63-year-old woman
Bonnevoie murder trial – Day 2 ‘I didn’t know what else to do’, says defendant
Bonnevoie murder trial – Day 3: Prosecution seeks 18-year sentence, acknowledges killing was not premeditated
