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Cannibal of Rotenburg: Third attempt at freedom failed!
Armin Meiwes, the "Cannibal of Rotenburg", is again applying for release from prison - his dangerousness remains controversial.
Cannibal of Rotenburg: Third attempt at freedom failed!
Armin Meiwes, known as the “Cannibal of Rotenburg”, is once again causing a stir: on August 14, 2025, the 63-year-old submitted his third application for release from prison. Meiwes was convicted of murder to satisfy sexual desire in 2001 and has been serving a life sentence since 2006. The background to his infamous crime is as shocking as it is scandalous - contact with his victim Bernd Jürgen Brandes took place via a cannibalism forum. In the most recent hearing at the Kassel regional court, which took place in July, Meiwes was psychologically assessed in advance. A more than 100-page expert report was discussed.
The decision on the application has not yet been made at this hearing. Nevertheless, the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office has already signaled that it plans to reject the application. Senior public prosecutor Dominik Mies refers to the results of the report, which Meiwes classified as “potentially dangerous”. Five years earlier, a similar application had been rejected, at that time because of an unfavorable social prognosis. Meiwes' criminal defense lawyer, Prof. Dr. Frank Füglein, on the other hand, does not see him as dangerous and could therefore cause a surprising turnaround in the upcoming decision.
The public reaction
But it's not just the judiciary that is called upon in this case. The public debate about Meiwes and his crimes continues. Many people are horrified at the idea that someone who committed such a horrific act could even have a chance at early release. This despite the fact that he has been behind bars for almost two decades. The topic touches not only on questions of justice, but also on deeper social fears.
Legal framework
The course of the pending proceedings and the legal basis for the applications for release from prison also shed light on the rehabilitative options in German criminal law. How much room is there for a second chance when the actions are so cruel and shocking? Society has different views on how to deal with convicted criminals who may have served their sentence.
The picture is rounded off by the role of psychologists and assessors who are responsible for assessing the dangerousness of criminals. These complex processes are crucial for future decisions in similar cases.