A 35-year-old man from Osnabrück is accused of stabbing his 44-year-old roommate to death in November 2025, driven by his aversion to homosexuality. On Wednesday, the trial against the alleged killer began at the state regional court, according to the regional newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (paywalled).
The perpetrator is said to have justified his hostility toward homosexuals with the Bible. He reportedly cited the Third Book of Moses (Leviticus) — “You shall not lie with a man as you would with a woman; it is an abomination” — and allegedly claimed that homosexuals should be turned toward the wall whenever a “real man” like him passed by. He also tried to prohibit the newly moved-in roommate from using the bathroom because of his sexual orientation. In reality, the victim was only supposed to stay briefly in the shared apartment after breaking up with his partner, but his new place wasn’t ready yet.
Defendant previously assaulted a tradesman
The religious 35-year-old had already shown violence beforehand. A few weeks earlier, prosecutors say, he attacked a craftsman who was trying to fix a drain — allegedly over claims of poor workmanship. The worker sustained several bruises. Therefore, the suspect is also charged with bodily harm.
The gay roommate had previously reached out to the police several times, and the police had carried out two danger warnings. According to court records, the defendant threatened the gay man with death and said he would drink his blood. The police advised the victim to steer clear of the aggressor, but the visit did not result in any consequences for the later offender. On the first day of the trial, a policewoman testified that the defendant had not been searched for knives despite the threats.
Prosecution: Defendant forced the victim to kneel — and stabbed
Only three days after the gay man moved in, the situation escalated: according to the prosecution, on the morning of November 9 the defendant held two knives and forced his victim to kneel before him and apologize. The defendant recorded the scene on his phone, but later deleted the video.
According to the prosecution, the victim apologized but could not explain why. In response, the 35-year-old rammed a knife into the victim’s heart. He then called the emergency number and claimed he had acted in self-defense, which the prosecution regards as a lie. A police officer testified that the defendant greeted the officers without emotional reaction. “I found him remarkably, almost strikingly calm given the situation that had just unfolded,” one officer said.
At the outset, the defendant remained silent in court. Six more sessions are scheduled for the trial. The next hearing is April 30. The verdict could be announced on June 25. If convicted, the defendant faces a life sentence.
