One of the most disturbing stories I've ever followed in the news is that of Armin Meiwes. Meiwes has confessed in court to killing and eating a willing victim, a crime for which he's currently on trial.
"The Cannibal of Rotenburg" posted Internet ads using the pseudonym "Franky" to recruit men willing to be devoured by him. One such ad read: "If you are 18-25 you are my boy, Franky from Germany". Another read: "Come to me I'll eat your delicious flesh". What's disturbing is the fact 430 responded to his ads within a year and one 43 year old Berlin computer specialist gave Meiwes permission to kill, dismember and eat his flesh. How do we know this victim was a willing participant? The entire episode was video taped.
The questions this case raises are many. Since the victim was a willing participant and from all accounts not mentally disturbed, is this murder? It's certainly illegal, but when someone of sound mind and body asks you in all seriousness to kill him and eat his flesh that's not exactly murder. In Germany, there is a conviction of "killing on request", a form of illegal euthanasia which carries a far lower sentence of up to five years. That's what Meiwes' lawyer is seeking and he might just get it.
Following this case this past week has been especially disturbing for a few reasons. Firstly, Meiwes is so open and frank about what he did. He calmly communicates every detail while comparing the experience of eating another person's flesh to taking communion. It was clearly a religious experience for him. Secondly, this case has unveiled a fetish I was not aware existed. There are thousands of men who fantasize about witnessing the dismemberment of certain body parts and the devourment afterwards. Thankfully, few want to go as far as being slaughtered, but still, the fact websites such as "Cannibal Cafe," "Guy Cannibals" and "Torturenet" exist for this purpose is rather frightening. Finally, the most disturbing aspect of this case is the fact Sexual Cannibalism is a recognized psychosexual disorder. To quote this excellent article on the subject, "eating human flesh can cause an increase in levels of vitamin A and amino acids, which can cause a chemical effect on the blood and in the brain. This chemical reaction could possibly lead to the altered states that some cannibals have claimed to have experienced." Armin Meiwes is not the first cannibal to stand trial for his actions. Andrei Chikatilo, Edward Gein, Albert Fish and Jeffrey Dahmer are all notorious for their crimes. What makes Meiwes different is the willingness of his victim. In the end, that may be what saves him from a murder conviction.
Stay tuned. There's more to digest here.
