Luise met a tragic end, suffering from 74 stab wounds
In a shocking turn of events, a civil trial is underway in Germany, as the parents and sister of Luise, a 12-year-old girl who tragically lost her life, are suing the two confessed girls for damages. The details of the incident are harrowing: the girls, who were approximately the same age as Luise, were found with a knife, a plastic trash bag, and duct tape. They had initially planned to bind and suffocate Luise, but when this failed because she resisted, they resorted to using a knife. The judge detailed that Luise had facial injuries, died from blood loss and a collapsed lung, and the murder weapon is still missing.
The body of Luise was found the next day, several kilometers from her home, at the border between Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The investigating authorities had previously provided few details, citing the age of those involved. However, chat logs indicate that the defendants had previously discussed killing someone.
The plaintiffs are seeking 50,000 euros for Luise and 30,000 euros each for themselves as appropriate damages. The defendants dispute the claim of a prolonged agony and find the claimed damages too high. The court spokesperson explains that the claim for damages for pain and suffering of a deceased person, based on the pain suffered before death, is inheritable and can be claimed by the heirs.
However, under German law, damages for pain and suffering of a deceased person are not inheritable by their heirs. German tort law distinguishes between personal claims related to the injured party’s physical and mental suffering and pecuniary claims related to economic losses. While pecuniary losses can sometimes be pursued by heirs as part of the deceased’s estate, claims for pain and suffering are non-transferable personal rights.
The interrogation of the confessed girls took place behind closed doors. A verdict was not expected on Thursday. The court's decision in this case could set a significant precedent for future cases involving similar circumstances.
[4] German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) and Tort Compensation, Legal Reference (accessed 2022-05-16)
- The tragic event involving Luise, a 12-year-old girl who lost her life, has sparked a civil trial focusing on mental-health and general-news, as her parents and sister are suing the confessed girls for damages.
- The science of law, specifically German tort law, comes into play in this case, as the claim for damages for pain and suffering of a deceased person is inheritable and can be claimed by the heirs, but under German law, these damages are not inheritable by the heirs.
- The court's decision in this case, involving crime-and-justice and health-and-wellness, could set a significant precedent for future cases involving similar circumstances.
