German Cannibal Armin Meiwes Gets Life in Prison

A court overturned a 2004 ruling of manslaughter for Armin Meiwes' killing and consumption of Bernd-Jurgen Brandes in 2001 that would have sentenced the cannibal to eight years in prison. Meiwes new conviction of murder will put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Here are the sick details in a nutshell: “The court heard how Brandes had originally replied to a March 2001 internet posting by Meiwes seeking a ‘well-built male' for ‘slaughter and consumption.' Just over a week later, Brandes travelled to Meiwes's detached house in the central German town of Rotenberg, where Meiwes cut off his penis and cooked it for them to share as a last meal. Brandes had drunk a bottle of schnapps and taken painkillers before the ritual began. After he passed out from loss of blood, Meiwes began cutting him open on his workbench.” Since Brandes had responded to Meiwes internet posting, Meiwes' lawyers had tried to get the killer a more lenient sentence, saying it was a “killing upon request.” The court didn't buy it.