A German Man Seeks Compensation for Killing His Wife

A notable case from Germany has drawn attention after a man, who killed his wife, applied for compensation for the psychological consequences of the incident. This report comes from the German media outlet Bild.

According to the report, the man’s wife attacked him with a gas cylinder, prompting him to respond by placing her in a chokehold. He maintained the hold until she ceased breathing and subsequently died.

The court in Munich evaluated that the man initially acted in self-defense; however, he exceeded reasonable limits by continuing to restrain her, resulting in her death. Consequently, he was convicted of manslaughter.

Despite the conviction, the man viewed himself as a victim due to the traumatic experience, his detention, and the criminal proceedings. He subsequently sought compensation from the social court (socialretten).

However, the social court rejected the man’s claim, stating: “One who kills a person under apparent self-defense cannot claim victim compensation for the psychological consequences of the crime.” Nevertheless, the court ruled that the man could receive compensation for the head injuries he sustained from the gas cylinder.

This case has sparked a debate regarding the boundaries of self-defense and the psychological repercussions of such incidents.