Farewell to the killed twelve-year-old Luise from Freudenberg: A memorial service for the girl is to take place in the small town in Siegerland next Wednesday. According to an obituary notice published in the “Siegener Zeitung” on Saturday, everyone who would like to take part is invited to the auditorium of the Esther-Bejarano comprehensive school. “There are no words to understand the incomprehensible. For us, the world stands still,” is written next to a photo of the girl who died violently about a week ago.
According to the advertisement, the commemoration will be celebrated on March 22 at 6 p.m. “in a close personal circle”. It is to be transmitted to the comprehensive school as an audio stream and can be followed there in the auditorium, as the advertisement shows. “We ask for your understanding that the family and friends would like to accompany Luise there in peace on her last journey.” A police spokesman said they wanted to use an operation to ensure that the funeral service would not be disturbed.
Two girls, aged 12 and 13, had confessed to the act of violence. According to previously announced findings, they are said to have killed Luise with several stab wounds on Saturday (March 11) in a remote forest on the border of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia last week. In the obituary notice, Luise’s life data states “12.03.2023” as the day of death.
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.”
The parish announced that it would give “a special space to our dismay at the death of Luise” as part of a regular service this Sunday (March 19). The sermon will be held by the superintendent of the Evangelical Church District of Siegen, Peter-Thomas Stuberg. A few days ago on WDR, he spoke of a “shock state” from which we had to try to get out together. Thoughts and prayers are with the family of the child who was killed.
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. At the same time, the investigators warned against speculation, especially on social media, “that does not correspond to the current status of the investigation” and asked not to take part in it. 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.
