Knife attack on ex-lover in trendy bar: Regional Court acquits defendant

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He happened to bump into his former lover in a trendy bar in Leipzig – and is alleged to have attacked him twice with a knife in a fit of rage over an alleged rape. The prosecution classified the incident as attempted murder in conjunction with grievous bodily harm. However, the 35-year-old defendant has now, surprisingly, been released.

The Leipziger Volkszeitung was the first to report on the outcome of the trial, which had been running at the Leipzig Regional Court since the end of April. According to the report, the defendant, Richard C., unexpectedly ran into his former lover, Manfred S. (name changed), on the night of 12–13 September 2025 in a trendy Leipzig bar near the city centre. The 51-year-old teacher from Berlin was visiting Leipzig with colleagues.

Expert report finds defendant poses no danger to the public

Richard C. is alleged to have attacked the older man with a knife on two separate occasions that night, causing him significant injuries to his neck and abdomen. According to the investigation, the two men had known each other since 2021 and had met up several times in Berlin for sex. The relationship broke down in 2022 because the defendant is alleged to have accused the victim of having been raped by him. However, the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office had dropped its investigation into this matter in 2023.

It was reported that Richard C. did not accept this and sought revenge. His acquittal was due to a psychiatric report which confirmed that the 35-year-old was suffering from a mental illness and delusions at the time of the offence. In similar cases, those affected are often admitted to a psychiatric hospital rather than serving a prison sentence.

Not so in this case: as Richard C.’s actions were directed solely at his acquaintance and, according to the report, he posed no danger to the general public, he was acquitted in accordance with the wishes of his defence lawyer, Andrea Liebscher. Apparently much to the chagrin of the prosecution: according to court records, Public Prosecutor Moritz Diekmann had sought a total of seven years’ imprisonment. The public prosecutor’s office has since lodged an appeal against the verdict and has also filed a complaint against his release from custody.