What happened
Marianne Bachmeier shot and killed Klaus Grabowski inside a Lübeck courtroom while he was on trial for the sexual assault and murder of her seven-year-old daughter Anna.
The investigation
Because the shooting occurred in open court, there was little dispute about who fired the shots. The legal question centered on how to classify Bachmeier’s intent and responsibility.
What the courts or investigators concluded
She was convicted of manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm and served part of her sentence before release.
Why the case remains significant
The case divided public opinion in Germany over vigilantism, grief, punishment and whether sympathy for a bereaved parent can coexist with rejection of private revenge.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.