Defense lawyer demands acquittal in Bern murder trial
Published: Tuesday, Aug 6th 2024, 10:20
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There were too many doubts for his client to be found guilty of murder. The defense lawyer of a 38-year-old defendant called for an acquittal on Tuesday before the Bern-Mittelland Regional Court of First Instance.
The man has been on trial since Monday for allegedly administering a sedative to his wife in mid-December 2022 and then strangling her in her sleep.
The defense argued that it was not a crime of violence, but that the woman had committed suicide. The expert opinion of the Institute of Forensic Medicine also supported this conclusion.
The woman, who was 29 at the time of the crime, not only had an upbeat, spirited side, but also a melancholy one. The perfectionist had kept this side to herself and only allowed outsiders a glimpse of it.
It was clear that the woman had been under stress both professionally and privately. She had suffered a burnout and had taken on a new job that was very demanding. In addition, there were marital problems. The relationship with her husband had come to an end.
In a circumstantial trial, there should no longer be any significant doubts for a guilty verdict, according to the defense lawyer. But there were such doubts.
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