Defendant in 2020 serial rape cases in Germany confesses

Berlin, Feb 17, (GNA/dpa) – The defendant in a German case concerning a series of rapes of young women in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg has confessed, his defence lawyer said during a hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing only lasted half an hour. There were no witnesses.

The 30-year-old defendant is accused of rape in six cases and attempted rape in one case, as well as battery and attempted blackmail.

The defendant made a blanket confession via his lawyer and said he regretted what he had done.

During the summer of 2020, a string of reports about violent attacks of women in south-west Berlin, bordering the state of Brandenburg, caused public concern and upset.

The man is accused of attacking seven young women aged between 14 and 27, mostly on remote paths, for example near Wannsee, a popular lake.

He allegedly grabbed and choked his victims and also threatened some of them with a knife. He is said to then have dragged them to a secluded area before raping them.

GNA