Murder of Jakob von Metzler

[1][2] The case drew controversy over the fact that Gäfgen was threatened with torture during his interrogation by the police in order to save his victim's life.

After being threatened[2] with torture, as ordered by Frankfurt Police Vice President Wolfgang Daschner, he confessed and told where the body was hidden.

In the conviction of Gäfgen for murder to life imprisonment in July 2003, the court established his grave level of guilt (besondere Schwere der Schuld).

In December 2004 Frankfurt deputy police chief Wolfgang Daschner received a suspended sentence of a €10,800 fine for ordering a subordinate, Ortwin E., to threaten Gäfgen with torture.

Additionally, he sued the state of Hessen and demanded compensation for allegedly suffering trauma after being threatened with torture, but lost the case.

He passed the first state examination in law while in prison, and published the autobiography Allein mit Gott – Der Weg zurück (Alone with God – The way back) in 2005.

ARD produced the movie Eine Frage des Gewissens in 2006, while an episode in the ZDF series Kommissarin Lucas from that year was also based on the case.