On March 6, 1981, in Lübeck, Germany, Marianne Bachmeier walked into a courtroom carrying a small pistol. Moments later, she shot and killed Klaus Grabowski, the man accused of kidnapping, abusing, and murdering her seven-year-old daughter, Anna. The act, carried out in front of judges, lawyers, and witnesses, shocked Germany and sparked global debate over justice versus vigilantism.
Marianne’s life had been marked by hardship, but Anna was her joy. That joy was shattered in May 1980 when Anna disappeared and was found murdered by Grabowski, a convicted sex offender with a disturbing past. During his trial, he made vile claims about Anna, deepening Marianne’s grief and rage. On the third day of proceedings, she fired seven shots, killing him instantly.
Initially charged with murder, she was later convicted of premeditated manslaughter and illegal firearm possession, receiving six years in prison but serving only three. Public opinion was divided—some saw her as a tragic hero, others as proof that justice must remain in the courts.
After her release, Marianne lived abroad before returning to Lübeck when diagnosed with cancer. In interviews, she admitted the shooting was deliberate, meant to stop Grabowski from continuing to lie about her daughter. She died in 1996 and was buried beside Anna.
Her story remains one of Germany’s most famous cases—an enduring symbol of grief, moral conflict, and the blurred line between justice and revenge.
