In a tragic incident that has shaken the small town of Schackendorf in Schleswig-Holstein, Silke E. lost her life in a brutal stabbing attack allegedly carried out by her ex-partner, Manuel A. On November 16, 2024, Silke E., aged 51, was attacked outside her red-brick house while walking her two Chihuahuas, accompanied by her new boyfriend, Roman B., who was just 45 years old.
The horrifying scene unfolded when Manuel A., 52, armed with a knife, allegedly ambushed the couple. Reports indicate that he stabbed Silke E. fatally at the scene, while Roman B. sustained 16 stab wounds, necessitating emergency surgery at the hospital. Despite fighting for his life for four long months, Roman succumbed to his injuries on March 13, 2025, as confirmed by Michael Bimler, spokesperson for the Kiel public prosecutor's office.
"Der im Verlauf des Messerangriffs in Schackendorf verletzte Mann ist am 13. März verstorben," remarked Bimler to the media, highlighting the gravity of the incident. Witness accounts, particularly from Silke's 16-year-old daughter, revealed the terrifying moment. She was awakened by her mother's screams and witnessed the horrific attack from inside the house.
Manuel A. initially fled from the scene but turned himself in to police approximately two hours later. The public prosecutor's office is pursuing a murder investigation, with Bimler noting that they consider the nature of the crime to reflect premeditated intent. "Die Staatsanwaltschaft geht nach der Vernehmung des Verletzten von einer heimtückischen Begehungsweise aus," Bimler stated, indicating the expectation of serious charges against Manuel A.
This tragic event is not an isolated incident. Prior to the stabbing, there had been a violent episode involving Manuel A., who had attacked Silke in August with an iron bar, locking her daughter and a friend in a room while he assaulted her. Despite this attack, Silke chose not to file charges, hoping to prevent damage to his career.
The attack on November 16 was described as shocking and showed the failure of the existing system designed to protect women from dangerous ex-partners. In Silke's case, after the earlier attack with the iron bar, officials did assess her situation, but unfortunately concluded that she did not meet the criteria for high-risk status under the protective measures available in Schleswig-Holstein.
This oversight has led to renewed scrutiny of the high-risk management system intended to help protect victims of domestic violence. Critics argue that such miscalculations in assessing threats can have devastating consequences. As one commentator noted, "Frauenschutz ist nicht nur ein Problem, das den Einzelfall betrifft, sondern eine gesamtgesellschaftliche Herausforderung." (Women's protection is not only an issue that pertains to individual cases but is a challenge for society as a whole.)
The impact of these events reverberates within the community as people grapple with the implications of such domestic violence cases. Community leaders are urging for reforms to ensure that earlier warnings do not fall through the cracks again. The tragic loss of Silke E. and the subsequent death of Roman B. is a stark reminder of the necessity for effective intervention in domestic violence situations.
Silke E. and Roman B. were hoping for a peaceful life together, but their hopes were dashed in the most brutal way. The investigation continues as authorities work to ensure accountability in this heartbreaking scenario. As Bimler emphasized, "Dieses Mordmerkmal wird durch das Ausnutzen der Arg- und daraus folgenden Wehrlosigkeit des Opfers erfüllt," indicating the nature of the attack as one that exploited vulnerability, highlighting the insidiousness of such acts.
