2008 Woodie Awards
A flesh of another makes you his lover
By: Jacqueline Barela
Issue date: 3/4/04 Section: Opinion
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If someone voluntarily agrees to be the victim of cannibalism, should the initiator be tried for murder? It sounds ridiculous and strange, but a jury in Germany is asking itself that question.
Armin Meiwes, a 41-year-old computer techician, advertised on the web that he was looking for someone who was willing to be the victim of his fantasy of cannibalism.
The responder, 43-year-old Bernd-Jurgen Brandes, agreed to have his penis cut off and it was then served flamb to him, before he was stabbed repeatedly in the neck and then dismembered and partially eaten by Meiwes.
Cannibalism is considered an offense under German laws. This will be a hard case to prosecute because the victim allegedly volunteered, so it couldn't have been murder.
Meiwes captured the nauseating act on film and it is supposed to be introduced as evidence for his defense.
"I had the fantasy, and in the end I fulfilled it," Meiwes said.
He openly admits to a crime of cannibalism and is going to be tried for murder, but I see it differently. Brandes responded to an Internet ad. He even agreed to have his male genitalia cut off and fed to him as his last meal.
It seems a bit creepy that someone would be willing to do so. If you ask me, anyone willing to eat his or her own reproductive organs should be committed to a mental facility to keep from potentially jeopardizing the freedom of someone who may want to commit such acts.
Meiwes even commented that Brandes was a friend and said he enjoyed his death, leading me to believe that they both may have been homosexual. Meiwes was specific in what type of victim he was searching for; a well-built male, possibly a blond.
It's almost as if it were a crude sexual fantasy or strange need. Obviously, for Meiwes it was a need. After Brandes responded to his advertisement and the act was complete, he later placed another ad. An Austrian student came across the ad on the Internet and led authorities to him.
Armin Meiwes, a 41-year-old computer techician, advertised on the web that he was looking for someone who was willing to be the victim of his fantasy of cannibalism.
The responder, 43-year-old Bernd-Jurgen Brandes, agreed to have his penis cut off and it was then served flamb to him, before he was stabbed repeatedly in the neck and then dismembered and partially eaten by Meiwes.
Cannibalism is considered an offense under German laws. This will be a hard case to prosecute because the victim allegedly volunteered, so it couldn't have been murder.
Meiwes captured the nauseating act on film and it is supposed to be introduced as evidence for his defense.
"I had the fantasy, and in the end I fulfilled it," Meiwes said.
He openly admits to a crime of cannibalism and is going to be tried for murder, but I see it differently. Brandes responded to an Internet ad. He even agreed to have his male genitalia cut off and fed to him as his last meal.
It seems a bit creepy that someone would be willing to do so. If you ask me, anyone willing to eat his or her own reproductive organs should be committed to a mental facility to keep from potentially jeopardizing the freedom of someone who may want to commit such acts.
Meiwes even commented that Brandes was a friend and said he enjoyed his death, leading me to believe that they both may have been homosexual. Meiwes was specific in what type of victim he was searching for; a well-built male, possibly a blond.
It's almost as if it were a crude sexual fantasy or strange need. Obviously, for Meiwes it was a need. After Brandes responded to his advertisement and the act was complete, he later placed another ad. An Austrian student came across the ad on the Internet and led authorities to him.