Germany jails man, 81, for life over murder of tourist 30 years ago

The case remained unsolved for decades. A breakthrough was only achieved after old DNA traces were analysed using new technical methods

An 81-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the murder of an American tourist more than 30 years ago, the presiding judge at Koblenz Regional Court, Rupert Stehlin, announced on Friday.

The court also found that the offence was of a particularly serious nature.

In doing so, the bench concurred with the unanimous assessments of the prosecution, the representatives of the joint plaintiffs and the defence counsel.

The defendant had admitted to the offence in general terms at the start of the trial.

The court considers it proven that, in September 1994, the man tied up 24-year-old Amy Lopez, sexually assaulted her and killed her with nine stab wounds. He is alleged to have lured her into a secluded, derelict building.