An American tourist in Germany was sentenced to life in prison on Monday on charges of rape, murder, and attempted murder of two female American tourists.
The attack originally occurred last year while the pair were hiking near the Marienbrücke in Schwangau, an area well known for its scenic view of Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Bavaria’s most well-known attractions.
After meeting and befriending the two tourists, the attacker, 31-year-old Troy Philipp, convinced the women to enter a secluded area of the forest with the promise of a better view of Neuschwanstein. When the three arrived, Philipp attacked one of the women before pushing the other down the mountain after she attempted to help her friend, where she fell 100 meters (328 feet). Philipp killed the original woman he attacked by throwing her off the same ledge.
Philipp’s phone was found to be filled with “violent pornography,” while prosecutors found he had used his phone to record the rape.
Philipp did not contest the crime in the Kempten regional court but contested the charge of aggravated murder.
