The main defendant in the trial concerning the severe abuse of a woman in Soest has ended his previous denial of involvement. During proceedings at the Arnsberg Regional Court, the 29-year-old man admitted to participating in a portion of the charged acts. However, he simultaneously accused his former partner of playing an active role in the mistreatment. His attorney clarified that while the defendant was present for some incidents, he was not in the house where certain events took place.
The defendant acknowledged that brutal abuses occurred, describing how the victim was tortured, beaten, sexually abused, and treated with contempt. He stated that he amusedly observed the dehumanizing actions to which the woman was forced. Despite these admissions, he repeatedly downplayed his own activities, emphasizing that his former partner was more actively involved in the abuse. This woman was arrested later after new videos surfaced, revealing 18 additional filmed acts involving other individuals who have not yet been charged.
The public prosecutor plans to file a new indictment based on this evidence. The main defendant announced his intention to confess to any of these new acts in which he participated. The newly discovered footage also indicates that only one of the two accused minor brothers was involved, leading prosecutors to consider dropping charges against the 17-year-old. Both minors addressed the allegations, though their statements were made behind closed doors for juvenile protection reasons.
The victim, a 33-year-old woman, is scheduled to be questioned via video link next week due to her illness, a measure agreed upon by the court and legal representatives. The case details months of suffering where she was allegedly beaten, sexually humiliated, and degraded by four accused men. Specific allegations include two instances of rape and being handcuffed to a heating pipe. While waterboarding was mentioned as a potential torture method during the trial, the defendant did not comment on this specific act.
The case came to light last November when a neighbor spotted the woman hanging half-naked and handcuffed to a wooden beam on the balcony of a neighboring row house. The neighbor alerted police, who subsequently rescued her.
Sources: Tagesschau.