German cannibal verdict expected

A verdict is expected in the retrial of a German man who killed and ate an apparently willing victim. Armin Meiwes, 44, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison in 2004 after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Bernd Juergen Brandes. But a judge ordered a retrial after ruling the sentence was too lenient. State prosecutors argued Meiwes was guilty of murder. If he is found guilty, Meiwes could face a life sentence.

Meiwes says he froze body parts and then ate them

Meiwes made headlines across the world when the bizarre nature of his gruesome crime first became apparent. Not only did he kill and eat Mr Brandes, a 43-year-old engineer, but he did it apparently with his victim's permission. Mr Brandes had agreed to the idea after making contact with his killer on an internet chatroom - a fact that led the court to convict Meiwes of the less serious charge of manslaughter at his trial in 2004.

At this retrial the prosecution has made a graphic case that Meiwes was guilty of murder and have argued he should never be released from prison. In a key moment a psychologist said Meiwes could reoffend and he himself has admitted he still has fantasies about devouring the flesh of attractive young people.

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