Hamburg murder conviction upheld after 43 years

The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has upheld the conviction of a 62-year-old man for a murder committed in Hamburg over 43 years ago. The ruling confirms a sentence of six years and three months of juvenile imprisonment, originally handed down by the Hamburg Regional Court.

The crime occurred on the night of January 11, 1983, in the Hammerbrook district. The victim, a 41-year-old transsexual sex worker, was shot three times with a revolver while in a caravan. The perpetrator, who was 18 at the time of the incident, fled with the victim's wallet and other valuables.

The breakthrough in the cold case came through DNA evidence and the identification of a revolver linked to the defendant. Following an indictment process, the court found no legal errors in the original verdict, making the sentence final.