Armin Meiwes, the "Rotenburg Cannibal"

In March 2001, German computer technician Armin Meiwes killed Bernd Jürgen Brandes, a man he had met through an internet forum, at his home in Rotenburg, Germany. Meiwes then consumed portions of the victim's remains over the following months.

A case built on consent

The case became legally unusual because Brandes had actively sought out being killed and eaten, contacting Meiwes after finding an online post seeking a willing participant. Meiwes recorded video of parts of the encounter, which was later used as evidence.

First trial

In Meiwes's first trial in 2004, a German court convicted him only of manslaughter rather than murder, reasoning that the killing lacked the "base motives" required for a murder conviction under German law, given the victim's consent. He was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months.

Retrial and final sentence

Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient given the sexual motive behind the killing. A retrial in 2006 convicted Meiwes of murder, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He remains incarcerated in Germany.