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CNN Live At Daybreak
Bizarre Trial of Self-Professed Cannibal
Aired December 08, 2003 - 06:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Germany, the bizarre trial of a self-professed cannibal starts up again with the playing of a graphic videotape. The tape not only shows the murder, but shows the defendant cannibalizing his victim.
Our Matthew Chance traveled to the scene of the crime to take a closer look at how this could have happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From a distance, Rotenburg seems picture perfect. But these rooftops have hidden a grizzly secret. In the sunlight, the house where Armin Meiwes lived out his cannibal fantasies. Sealed as evidence now, behind these walls, a man was slaughtered and eaten like an animal. The details have disgusted and frightened many, like Manfred Stuck (ph), friend and neighbor for 30 years. "He seemed the most normal guy you could know," he told me. "Going on inside his head," he says.
Armin Meiwes, seen here in court, openly confesses to killing and eating his victim, this man, Bernd-Juergen Brandes. In fact, he says, Brandes wanted to be eaten and even shared a meal of his own genitals, cooked with peppers and garlic.
Crime experts say the apparent joint nature of the fantasy makes this a grotesque and truly unique case.
PROF. ARTHUR KREUYER, CRIMINOLOGIST: The very special situation is made up by the Internet system and technique. You can find one another worldwide with such special traits with which corresponded one another. The one who is sadistic, more sadistic cannibal, and the other who is a more masochistic cannibal; the one who wants to kill, the one who wants to be killed.
CHANCE: It is a crossing of paths many here wish had never been made in their town.
(on camera): This hideous crime has, of course, has shocked
Rotenburg and the whole of Germany. But it also raises important and difficult moral questions, as well. Cannibalism, for instance, isn't a crime here, but few doubt it should be punished. And perhaps more importantly, the issue of whether the consent of the victim is enough for a killing not to be murder.
(voice-over): And these are not just matters for the courts. As people here contemplate this appalling case, many ask how such an unspeakable crime was committed in their midst.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Rotenburg, Germany.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 8, 2003 - 06:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Germany, the bizarre trial of a self-professed cannibal starts up again with the playing of a graphic videotape. The tape not only shows the murder, but shows the defendant cannibalizing his victim.
Our Matthew Chance traveled to the scene of the crime to take a closer look at how this could have happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From a distance, Rotenburg seems picture perfect. But these rooftops have hidden a grizzly secret. In the sunlight, the house where Armin Meiwes lived out his cannibal fantasies. Sealed as evidence now, behind these walls, a man was slaughtered and eaten like an animal. The details have disgusted and frightened many, like Manfred Stuck (ph), friend and neighbor for 30 years. "He seemed the most normal guy you could know," he told me. "Going on inside his head," he says.
Armin Meiwes, seen here in court, openly confesses to killing and eating his victim, this man, Bernd-Juergen Brandes. In fact, he says, Brandes wanted to be eaten and even shared a meal of his own genitals, cooked with peppers and garlic.
Crime experts say the apparent joint nature of the fantasy makes this a grotesque and truly unique case.
PROF. ARTHUR KREUYER, CRIMINOLOGIST: The very special situation is made up by the Internet system and technique. You can find one another worldwide with such special traits with which corresponded one another. The one who is sadistic, more sadistic cannibal, and the other who is a more masochistic cannibal; the one who wants to kill, the one who wants to be killed.
CHANCE: It is a crossing of paths many here wish had never been made in their town.
(on camera): This hideous crime has, of course, has shocked
Rotenburg and the whole of Germany. But it also raises important and difficult moral questions, as well. Cannibalism, for instance, isn't a crime here, but few doubt it should be punished. And perhaps more importantly, the issue of whether the consent of the victim is enough for a killing not to be murder.
(voice-over): And these are not just matters for the courts. As people here contemplate this appalling case, many ask how such an unspeakable crime was committed in their midst.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Rotenburg, Germany.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
