Marianne Bachmeier, The Mother Who Shot Her Child’s Killer In The Middle Of His Trial
Updated: Mar 6
Marianne Bachmeier’s story is one of love, loss, and a mother’s desperate need for justice—an act that gripped a nation and sparked an intense debate on morality, revenge, and the limits of the legal system. Her life was shaped by hardship, tragedy, and an extraordinary act of retribution that made headlines across Germany and beyond. To truly understand what led her to that fateful day in court, we must first explore the life she lived, the depth of her grief, and the repercussions of her actions.
Early Life and Family
Born on 3 June 1950 in Sarstedt, Germany, Marianne’s early years were far from easy. She was the daughter of a wartime soldier who, like many who returned from the front, struggled to reintegrate into post-war society. Her childhood was turbulent, marked by hardship and family struggles that shaped her resilience.
As she entered adulthood, life didn’t become any simpler. In her early twenties, she had her first child, but the relationship with the father didn’t last, leaving her to navigate the difficulties of single parenthood. Later, she found love again and had two more children. But just when it seemed she might have found some stability, tragedy struck—an event so devastating that it would change the course of her life forever.
The Abduction and Murder of Anna Bachmeier
On 5 May 1980, Marianne’s seven-year-old daughter, Anna, was abducted on her way to school. A lively, bright child with a whole life ahead of her, Anna was lured away by Klaus Grabowski, a 35-year-old convicted sex offender.
Grabowski’s past was deeply disturbing. He had a history of sexual violence and had previously served time for similar crimes. Despite this, he was released and living in a neighbourhood dangerously close to where the Bachmeiers lived.
Under the pretence of showing Anna some kittens, he managed to lure her into his home. Once inside, he held her captive for several hours, subjecting her to unimaginable terror before ultimately strangling her with his fiancée’s stockings.
After killing her, Grabowski stuffed Anna’s body into a cardboard box and dumped it by a canal, where it was later discovered. The crime shocked the community, and Marianne’s world fell apart.
The Courtroom Drama and Marianne Bachmeier's Act of Vengeance
The trial of Klaus Grabowski began in March 1981. For Marianne, sitting through the court proceedings, listening to the details of what had happened to Anna, was unbearable. The weight of her grief and anger became too much.
On the third day of the trial, as Grabowski described the events leading to Anna’s death, Marianne did something that would ensure she was never forgotten. She had managed to smuggle a small-calibre pistol into the courtroom. Overcome with rage and sorrow, she stood up and fired seven shots at Grabowski, hitting him in the back.
The courtroom erupted into chaos. Witnesses later recounted that after shooting him, Marianne uttered words that revealed the depth of her pain. According to Judge Guenther Kroeger, who spoke to her after the shooting, she admitted, “I wanted to kill him.” She reportedly added, “He killed my daughter… I wanted to shoot him in the face, but I shot him in the back… I hope he’s dead.”
Grabowski collapsed to the floor, fatally wounded. Marianne was immediately arrested, and her actions sent shockwaves across Germany. The case ignited a fierce debate—was she a grieving mother who had been failed by the system, or had she taken justice too far?
The Aftermath and Public Reaction
When Marianne stood trial in 1983, her case was anything but straightforward. While there was no doubt she had killed Grabowski, the question was whether her actions were justified—or at least understandable.
During the trial, she spoke about the overwhelming grief and helplessness that had driven her to pull the trigger. In the end, the jury found her guilty of manslaughter rather than murder, acknowledging the extreme emotional strain she was under. She was sentenced to six years in prison but ended up serving only three due to good behaviour.
Her case sparked intense public discussion. Many sympathised with her, seeing her as a mother pushed to the edge by a justice system that had failed to protect her daughter. Others, however, argued that taking the law into her own hands set a dangerous precedent. A survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute reflected the divided opinion—28% of Germans felt her sentence was appropriate, 27% thought it was too harsh, and 25% believed it was too lenient.
The media followed her story closely. The German magazine Stern ran a series of articles about her, portraying her as a struggling single mother who had endured a difficult life. Marianne reportedly sold her story to Stern for around $158,000, using the money to cover her legal expenses.
Life After Prison
Upon her release, Marianne sought to rebuild her life away from the public eye. She moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where she lived for several years, working to distance herself from the painful memories and the notoriety that followed her in Germany. Eventually, she returned to Europe and settled in Italy, where she led a relatively quiet life.
In the latter years of her life, Marianne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She returned to Germany for medical treatment and spent her final days in Lübeck, where she passed away on September 17, 1996.
She is buried next to Anna.
