Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Injecting Mercury into 1-Year-Old Daughter's Foot

On Wednesday, a 30-year-old man from the town of Springe near Hannover, Germany, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted murder. His girlfriend, aged 34, received a 12-year prison sentence for her involvement in the crime.

Motives Behind the Crime

The man injected mercury into his 1-year-old daughter’s foot as an act of retaliation against the child’s mother, who had left him shortly after the girl’s birth.

Details of the Crime

The father and his girlfriend were aware that the poison would not result in immediate death but had intended to cause severe pain to the toddler. Subsequently, the daughter developed a severe infection in her foot and a rash all over her body. The presence of mercury in her body was coincidentally discovered during a surgical procedure related to the poisoning.

Admission of Guilt

Initially denying the charges, both the father and his girlfriend confessed to injecting the mercury into the girl’s foot and ankle last July, shortly before the trial concluded.

Legal Proceedings and Privacy Policy

The defendants have the option to appeal the court's decision. The identities of the defendants and the victim have not been disclosed, in adherence to German privacy regulations.