Düsseldorf court sentences 'Maschsee murderer' to ten years and preventive detention

The verdict

The Landgericht Düsseldorf has sentenced Alexander K., 38, to ten years in prison followed by preventive detention (Sicherungsverwahrung). The man, known in the press as the 'Maschsee murderer', was convicted of hostage-taking and bodily injury against his former partner, a 34-year-old woman from Düsseldorf. Prosecutors had asked for nine years in prison, while his defence had requested an acquittal. Presiding judge Alexandra Bernardy said he has a tendency to commit similar offences and is 'dangerous to the general public'.

Prosecution request9

Court sentence10

Prosecution request

9 years

Court sentence

10 years

Data from the article text

Evidence and the psychiatric assessment

The judge said the case was not a contest between two accounts, as it had appeared at the start of the trial. The court cited 'numerous pieces of evidence' and found the woman's testimony credible, noting that she answered all questions consistently and openly acknowledged gaps in her memory. The court followed a psychiatric report that described a dissocial personality, emotional disturbance, pathological narcissism, aggression and a strong risk of reoffending. According to the report, using violence to settle conflicts, especially in relationships, is a recurring pattern for him. On the motive, however, the court disagreed with the woman, who had said he hurt her out of jealousy.

The defendant's account

Alexander K. maintained his innocence throughout the trial and claimed the accusations were a plot by his jealous ex-partner. He challenged the psychiatric report and, according to the judge, asked witnesses repeated questions and engaged them in what he called technical discussions. Challenging the assessment, he said:

“I don't think that can be assessed after such a short time.”

The judge said his conduct created an imbalance in the proceedings, which gave the impression that he was clearly superior to the woman.

The woman's account and earlier conviction

The woman told the court that she met the defendant through TikTok after his release and that he soon moved in with her in Düsseldorf. She described two episodes of mistreatment. In one, she said he tied her up, let cold water run over her for about half an hour and tried to cut off her thumb so he could unlock her phone with her fingerprint. Media reports said he had been sentenced in 2013 by the Landgericht Hannover to twelve years for murdering a 44-year-old woman from Ibbenbüren, whose body parts he threw into the Maschsee. He served that sentence and was released in 2025.

Online persona and next steps

After his release, media reports said he built a following online as an influencer and promoted T-shirts with macabre prints, including one reading 'I survived a date, Maschsee murderer'. He also published a book titled 'Der Maschseemörder'. The judgment is not yet final, because Alexander K. can challenge it before the Bundesgerichtshof. The court's order means the preventive detention would follow the ten-year prison term.