Neuschwanstein killer contests extradition over death penalty fears

Three years after the rape and murder of a US tourist near Neuschwanstein Castle, the convicted man, also from the United States, is contesting his extradition from Germany.

The 33-year-old pushed two young women down a slope of around 50 metres during a visit to the world-famous castle. A 21-year-old later died in hospital and her friend was injured. The man raped and strangled the 21-year-old before pushing her over the edge.

Kempten Regional Court sentenced him to life in prison for murder, attempted murder and rape resulting in death. The foreigners' office in the area then issued a deportation order against the convicted murderer.

The man is now objecting to an extradition due to the US death penalty. He has filed a lawsuit against the order at the administrative court in Augsburg, arguing that if he returns to the US he could face another trial for the crimes and might face the death penalty.

There is currently no review procedure on whether the 33-year-old could be deported from prison, a spokesman for the Kempten public prosecutor's office said. "We will not be active on this from our side."

The man's defence team initially made no comment on the lawsuit.

Release from prison could still be a long way off

Normally, for convicted murderers sentenced to life imprisonment, suspension of the sentence can be considered after 15 years. 

However in this case, that would be difficult because the court also found aggravating guilt factors. "Release after 15 years would not be justifiable," the presiding judge said when delivering the verdict.

In such cases, it is unclear how long a murderer must remain in prison. It is up to the enforcement chamber of the competent regional court to review this later. When a particular severity of guilt is found in the judgment, it is not unusual for the convicted person to remain in prison for 20 to 25 years.

In this case, it could mean that a deportation order is not enforced for around two decades.

The man and his two victims came to Germany on holiday to visit the famous fairy-tale castle. The three did not know each other and met by chance in June 2023 on a bridge near the castle. Shortly afterwards, the crime occurred.

The bridge, known as the Marienbrücke, is a popular meeting point for tourists because it offers an especially good view of the magnificent building of Bavaria's King Ludwig II.

Due to the Neuschwanstein Castle fame, media from around the world reported on the crime. The castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.