In 1983, after two years of proceedings, the verdict was delivered. Marianne was found guilty of manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm. She was sentenced to six years in prison, but served only three before being released.
Polls at the time showed that public opinion was deeply divided: some considered the punishment too harsh, others too lenient.
Between pain and premeditation
Marianne Bachmeier’s life had already been marked by deep wounds. Her father had been a member of the Waffen-SS, she herself had suffered abuse and had given two of her children up for adoption before raising Anna, her third daughter, alone.
Years later, in 1995, she acknowledged that her actions hadn’t been purely impulsive. She admitted to premeditating them, stating that she wanted to prevent Grabowski from further tarnishing her daughter’s memory in court.
A tragic end
After her release, Marianne tried to rebuild her life away from the spotlight, but remained haunted by the tragedy. In 1996, she died of cancer at the age of 46.
Her story remains one of the most significant in German history and raises a universal question: how can a grieving mother go, and where is the line between justice and revenge?
