Murder trial in Kiel: Defendant remains silent about brutal crime

Murder trial in Kiel: Defendant remains silent about brutal crime

The tense nerves at the Kiel district court are noticeable as the murder trial against Manuel A. enters the next round. On November 7, 2025, the accused, who is accused of the double murder of his ex-partner Silke E. and her friend Roman B., spoke again in the courtroom. However, his silence remained the main event in today's proceedings, as he made it clear that he would not answer any questions "today or in the future", which led to an early end to the day of the trial.

Not a word about the alleged acts that occurred on November 16, 2024 in Schackendorf. According to the prosecution, Manuel A. attacked his ex-girlfriend and her new partner with a utility knife. Silke E. bled to death on site from 14 stab wounds, while Roman B. survived, seriously injured, but ultimately died of his injuries on March 13, 2025. This cruel course of events makes it clear that not only simple jealousy was at work here, but also a psychopathic predisposition in A., as a psychiatric report suggests. A. is attested to have a narcissistic personality and full control abilities, which leads the public prosecutor's office to request that he be put behind bars for life.

Chronology of crimes

A detailed chronology of harrowing events accompanies this case. It all started on August 23, 2024, when Manuel A. broke into Silke E.'s apartment, armed with a 60 cm long iron bar. He tied up Silke's 16-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old and threatened to commit suicide. Silke E. was able to calm him down and as a result he was admitted to a psychiatric clinic. But instead of improving, A. carried on his resentment over the separation and ultimately committed the monstrous thing.

• 23. August 2024: Einbruch in die Wohnung, Bedrohung und Freiheitsberaubung.
• 16. November 2024: Überfall auf Silke E. und Roman B. vor dem Haus.
• 6. Dezember 2024: Beerdigung von Silke E. in Wahlstedt.
• 13. März 2025: Roman B. stirbt an Komplikationen.

At the district court, A. is accompanied by his defense attorney Andreas Meyer, whose defense strategy enters rather problematic territory. The defense attorney received laughter from the co-plaintiffs, which visibly displeased him, and the mood in the courtroom became extremely tense. Lawyer Dirk Hein, who speaks for Silke E.'s surviving relatives, sees clear contradictions in A.'s statements and is convinced that these will be decisive for the verdict.

Outlook on the process

The process is now at a crucial stage. On November 27th Dr. Thomas Bachmann returns to complete his report. Pleas are scheduled for early December and the verdict is expected to come before Christmas. It will be interesting to see how things develop as the atrocities continue to be in the public eye. This case will concern Cologne and Schleswig-Holstein society for a long time.

The seriousness of the allegations and the psychological game associated with them make it clear: This is about more than just a court battle. The families affected have to cope with an unbelievable loss, and the question of how such acts can occur remains open.