A Brit-German man has been sentenced to life in prison for pushing his wife off a 22nd-floor hotel balcony in Frankfurt during sex, with a judge comparing the act to throwing her away "like a garbage bag".
Christian M, who initially claimed his wife had accidentally toppled 200ft over the balcony, was convicted of her murder. The court heard he was having an affair and wanted to "dispose of" his wife to start a new life with his mistress, as well as to avoid expensive divorce fees.
Fall from the Leonardo Royal Hotel
Marta M, 40, fell more than 200ft to her death on May 18, 2023, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Frankfurt. Christian claimed she had fallen accidentally during sex, and he later moved in with his mistress near Frankfurt.
After a two-year investigation, officers concluded that Christian's account did not match the evidence. During a 20-day trial starting on April 1, possible sex scenes were re-enacted for the judge and jury.
Evidence and internet searches
Prosecutors said internet searches showed Christian looking up poisonous herbs, weapons, sedatives and inheritance law. He also searched for tall mountains with deep crevices in Hesse and Bavaria, and towering hotels with balconies.
The day before the murder, he booked a hotel room on the 22nd floor, telling his wife—who was aware of the affair—that he wanted a "night of reconciliation", according to The Sun.
Court verdict and impact
Just 13 minutes after the pair returned to their room, hotel guests reported hearing screams of "no, no". Marta was found dead, wearing only her bra and with bruises on her elbows from before the fall.
The court heard that the idea to frame her death as a tragic accident may have come from an episode of CSI in which a woman pushes a man off a balcony during sex. The judge said: "We didn't perceive her as wanting dirty sex, but rather as needing to sleep." They added: "It would have been the perfect crime if the authorities hadn't investigated so meticulously."
Christian M has been ordered to pay £30,000 (35,000 euros) to Marta's mother and the two children they shared, for the loss of a loved one.
