German court rules fatal stabbing was lawful self-defense in shared flat

A drunken argument turned deadly, but the law called it survival. The verdict exposes how self-defense claims reshape justice in domestic conflicts.

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2025 November 27 . 1:03 AM

1 min read

In the image we can see there are people who are standing and a man is holding a knife in his hand.

Man stabbed to death - Court: Defendant acted in self-defense - German court rules fatal stabbing was lawful self-defense in shared flat

A court in Schwerin, northern Germany, has acquitted a defendant of manslaughter after a fatal stabbing in a shared apartment. The judge ruled the killing was in self-defense, though the defendant admitted to the attack. The trial also revealed prior convictions for welfare fraud, leading to a separate prison sentence of two months. The incident took place in a flat where the defendant and victim lived together. Arguments over room assignments had escalated over time, creating tension between them. On the night of the stabbing, both were heavily intoxicated. The ruling confirms the killing was deemed lawful under self-defense provisions. The case highlights the legal complexities surrounding fatal confrontations in domestic disputes.