A German who confessed to killing a man and eating his flesh is in good mental health but should be given psychotherapy, according to a prison psychiatrist who testified at his murder trial.
Mr Armin Meiwes (42) lacks empathy and self-control but should be considered healthy, said Dr Heinrich Wilmer. He said Mr Meiwes needs psychotherapy but did not need to be kept in a psychiatric institute. Dr Wilmer declined to comment on whether he believed Mr Meiwes might reoffend.
Mr Meiwes went on trial in Kassel earlier this month and confessed in detail to the March 2001 killing of engineer Bernd Juergen Brandes (43) at his home.
He told the court that he then looked for further willing victims through Internet adverts and chat rooms.
Prosecutors say the killing was sexually motivated and filed murder charges, despite concluding that the killer had the victim's consent.
His lawyer argues that it was a form of mercy killing, which would carry a maximum five-year sentence. A verdict is expected in February, and Mr Meiwes faces life in prison if convicted.
Police tracked down and arrested Mr Meiwes after a student in Austria alerted them to an advertisement Mr Meiwes had placed on the Internet seeking a man willing to be killed and eaten.
PA