Police discovered the body of the man, identified as 40-year-old Achim K., in his apartment at his parents’ house on Thursday morning after his alleged killer called the fire brigade regarding the incident. Following his arrest, the 32-year-old suspect indicated his friend had asked him to commit the murder, Bild reported on Friday.
The Public Attorney’s Office in Bochum has collected six witness accounts confirming the suspect’s statement, although a suicide note has yet to be found. Several witnesses – including the parents of the deceased – confirmed that Achim K. had spoken of being seriously ill with cancer in the weeks leading up to the event.
Toxicology tests should reveal in coming weeks whether the man was completely sober at the time of the event. Should the suspect be convicted of a mercy killing, he could face anywhere from six months to five years in jail, according to Bild .