Woman, 100, decapitated in her wheelchair as axe-wielding grandson confesses

08 September 2023 , 13:56

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Artur B is on trial for attacking his 100-year-old grandmother (Image: BILD)

A 100-year-old woman was decapitated in her wheelchair by her axe-wielding grandson.

Amalie G, a retired farm worker, was found dead in her flat after the attack by her 37-year-old grandson Artur B in Hamburg, Germany in March, according to investigators. After he was arrested, Artur - who was being treated for psychological problems - told a psychiatrist he was struggling with caring for his gran who suffered from dementia. However another relative says Amalie regularly complained "the black sheep of the family" was stealing from her. The family member said: "Most of the time he was unemployed and he constantly lacked the money. Family members kept their distance from him."

Amalie G, a retired farm worker, was found dead in her flat after the attack (BILD)

Former soldier, Artur B, is expected to appear in court on Monday over the death (BILD)

Artur was arrested after calling police to confess. Coroners investigating the death discovered Amalie was hit 16 times with the axe in a desperate attempt to defend herself. She attempted to save herself using a cordless vacuum cleaner but died when one strike cut her spinal cord.

"According to the preliminary autopsy result, it can be assumed that a cervical cord severing caused by sharp and blunt force was the cause of death." Chief public prosecutor Liddy Oechtering said an axe was found at the crime scene after the murder. The murdered grandmother's neighbour told Bild: "We actually had good contact before her death. Amalie told me that her grandson had already broken into the apartment through the balcony and wanted to steal her money."

Artur B is expected in court in Hamburg, Germany, on Monday (Stefan Hesse / BILD)

Artur looked after his grandmother, regularly but they often argued loudly which in some cases could be overheard. The newspaper reported arguments were a regular occurrence: "The grandson regularly came to his grandmother's apartment and looked after her. But there were arguments anyway." There was speculation, the attack followed a dispute over money which resulted in an argument escalating on the night of the killing.

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Artur, reports say, called police to admit to beheading his grandmother. Police officers later found an axe at the brutal crime scene. Prosecutors say he had no criminal record before the horrific attack.. The Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper reported the man was known only for minor crimes and police said none of them were violent.

Artur is expected to appear in court in Hamburg on Monday.

Graeme Murray