Death of Lisa T.: Mourning in Berlin and in the Oderbruch

The death of 13-year-old Lisa T. from Marzahn causes great consternation in Berlin. On Tuesday, around 200 people gathered in Lichtenberg for a mourning rally at the initiative of women's organizations. “We want to mourn together,” said one speaker. “But we also want to raise our voices together because on average one woman is killed every day in Germany.”

Many Vietnamese Berliners came to the rally, because Lisa T. comes from a Vietnamese family. “Looking the other way should not be an option,” said a Vietnamese mother’s banner. And: “Something has to change so that no other child is left unprotected.” Many people also placed flowers and candles in front of the family's home in Marzahn.

Even though the police have not yet revealed the exact cause of death, there are many indications that Lisa T. was the victim of femicide. The girl disappeared on her way to school last Tuesday. On Sunday, her body and the seriously injured suspect were found in an empty house in Altglietzen im Oderbruch.

According to the Berlin public prosecutor's office, the suspect died in a hospital on Wednesday from gunshot wounds that he presumably had inflicted on himself. It is not yet known whether he was a lone perpetrator and how he ended up in Oderbruch with the girl. According to the public prosecutor's office, investigators were able to secure a vehicle that could be the vehicle used in the crime. According to the investigative authorities, this is currently being examined for forensic purposes.

Lisa's parents come from central Vietnam and the family includes three siblings. The survivors do not want to speak to the media. At the beginning of the week, the family received permission from the police to hold a religious ceremony for the late Lisa in the house in Altglietzen. Incense sticks were lit to show the spirit of the dead girl the way home. This ceremony, which is widespread in Vietnam, is a mixture of a natural religious and a Buddhist practice that is intended to prevent the spirits of the dead from wandering around disorientated in the afterlife.

Lisa's fate caused great sympathy in the Vietnamese community. From the beginning, many Vietnamese took part in putting up the police wanted posters and publishing them on social networks.

The kidnapping and killing of the girl also caused great fear. “I have a 14-year-old daughter,” a woman tells taz. “So far she has always driven to school alone, but for the last few days I have been taking her.” However, this is not compatible with her working hours in the long term, so she has to organize a taxi ride for the very short way to school, says the mother.

There are many similar reports on Facebook. A number of Vietnamese there also make accusations against the police and judiciary: they investigated far too slowly. And, according to a frequently expressed demand, they should have taken the alleged perpetrator out of circulation earlier because of the child pornographic material on his cell phone. However, this was not legally possible.

There were also allegations against the neighbors in Altglietzen: According to media reports, residents had heard screams from the house there but did not inform the police.

According to investigators, the 22-year-old suspect lived in Marzahn, near the apartment of the girl who was killed. According to the Berlin public prosecutor's office, there was no relationship with his victim. Lisa was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The police searched the suspect's apartment and confiscated evidence. The alleged perpetrator is also said to have known his way around Altglietzen. He was no stranger to investigators.

It also became known that the public prosecutor's office was investigating him on suspicion of acquiring and possessing child pornographic material. The Passau public prosecutor's office also informed RBB that the man in Bavaria was sentenced to a suspended sentence of one year for a serious traffic offense.

He is said to have driven without a license and with a stolen license plate and to have caused serious property damage and minor personal injury while fleeing a police stop. Two weapons were also found on him. After the incident he was taken to a psychiatric hospital, but the suspicion of a mental illness was not confirmed, so he was released.

Pastor Johannes Eichhorn from the Protestant parish of Altglietzen-Oderberg reports that there is great concern in the town. “Nothing in Altglietzen is the way it used to be.” The terrible crime pulled the rug out from under the residents' feet.

The place by the church has become Altglietzen's place of mourning. “Anyone can come here at any time of the day or night and remember Lisa.”