Farewell to the dead twelve-year-old Luise from Freudenberg: A memorial service for the girl is to take place next Wednesday in the small town in Siegerland. But already on Sunday there was a regular service in the Evangelical Church dedicated to mourning the child. “Mourning and bewilderment lie on our city like a heavy burden,” said the mayor of Freudenberg, Nicole Reschke. “We are united in our pain with Luise’s family.”
At the same time, the mayor asked: “Is our cohesion in Freudenberg strong enough to endure all this?” You have to stand together, also against “agitation and aggressive know-it-alls” from outside, appealed the local politician and warned: “Let’s not judge prematurely!” Two girls, aged 12 and 13, had confessed to the act of violence.
The superintendent of the Evangelical Church District of Siegen, Peter-Thomas Stuberg, said at the service, which was also broadcast on YouTube, that it was not the central memorial service for Luise. This will take place next Wednesday in the church and then be broadcast to the auditorium of the comprehensive school in Freudenberg. The service on Sunday should help to get out of the speechlessness and to express the grief.
memorial service on Wednesday
In an obituary published in the “Siegener Zeitung” on Saturday, it was said that everyone who would like to take part in the memorial service was invited to the Esther-Bejarano comprehensive school on Wednesday. “There are no words to understand the incomprehensible. For us, the world stands still,” says a photo of the girl.
According to the announcement, the commemoration will be celebrated on March 22 at 6 p.m. “in a close personal circle” in the Evangelical Church in Freudenberg. From there it is transmitted to the school as an audio stream. “We ask for your understanding that the family and friends want to accompany Luise there in peace on her last trip.” A police spokesman said they wanted to use the church to ensure that the funeral service would not be disturbed.
According to previously announced findings, two 12 and 13-year-old girls are said to have killed Luise with several knife wounds on Saturday (March 11) in a remote forest on the border of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. In the obituary notice, Luise’s life data states March 12, 2023 as the day of death.
Prime Minister Wüst gave his condolences on Saturday
The church in Freudenberg has been open almost permanently for a week to enable people to mourn and pray there in silence. Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst came to the church on Saturday to sign a book of condolences there. The NRW head of government also spoke briefly to four pastors and thanked them for their commitment. Immediately after the incident became known, the CDU politician was dismayed by the girl’s death. “It pulls the rug out from under your feet.”
In his sermon on Sunday, Superintendent Stuberg said: “We are speechless, stunned, shaken.” It is even more serious that two children are said to have committed the crime. He also warned against “frivolous comments and overly hasty judgments”. It is forbidden for people to “throw stones” on social media – only digitally, but with the intention of hurting, Stuberg emphasized.
Investigators warn against speculation
In the case, the police and public prosecutor’s office are very reticent with information about the background, the alleged perpetrators and possible motives and refer to the protection of privacy. Because of their childhood, the girls are not yet criminally responsible and cannot be brought before a court.
The investigators had warned against speculation, especially on social media, “that does not correspond to the current status of the investigation” and asked not to participate. According to the Siegen-Wittgenstein district, the suspected girls have now left Freudenberg together with their families. They are housed outside of the home environment.
