Murder in German law

Under the German penal code, Strafgesetzbuch, there are two sections relating to homicide:

  • Totschlag,[1] § 212, "killing", is the intentional killing of another human and is punished with five to fifteen years in prison or imprisonment for life in particularly severe cases,[2]
  • Mord, § 211, "murder", is used only if the case is especially severe, and is punished with life imprisonment

    ... whoever kills a human being out of murderous intent, to satisfy sexual desires, out of greed or otherwise base motives, insidiously or cruelly, or with means dangerous to the public, or in order to commit or cover up another crime ...

  1. ^ http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/04/006/0400650.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "German Criminal Code". Gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 7 February 2014.