Former US Soldier Goes On Trial In Germany For 1978 Murder Of Teen

SCHWEINFURT (Germany), Jan 27 (dpa) – A former US soldier is to go on trial in Germany on Monday for the 1978 murder of an 18-year-old female student he is believed to have had a relationship with, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The man, who is now 70, was 24 at the time of the murder. He was stationed in Schweinfurt, the Bavarian city where he will now stand trial in a district court.

According to the charge sheet, he stabbed the woman, who was pregnant, 14 times with the aim of concealing the affair.

The accused was detained in the US state of Nebraska in 2023 and subsequently extradited. He has denied the charges.

He was tracked down with the aid of traces of DNA found on the victim's clothing, using a forensic method not available at the time. Prosecutors see the new evidence as conclusive proof of his guilt.

Under German law, all crimes other than murder are subject to the statute of limitations.

--BERNAMA-dpa