Mitja Hofmann and Uwe Kolbig
Posted on 02/27/2007 8:18:16 AM PST by aculeus
Police in Germany used dogs, helicopters and heat-seeking equipment yesterday in their hunt for a convicted paedophile who they are certain sexually abused and killed a nine-year-old boy.
Authorities in the eastern city of Leipzig released chilling photographs of the last sighting of Mitja Hofmann. Captured by CCTV as he sat on a tram, the boy was smiling broadly as he made what was supposed to be his first ever journey home from school unaccompanied by his mother.
But the man sitting next to him was named by police as Uwe Kolbig, 43, a man known to police after serving two years in prison for sexually abusing children in 1998.
In an unusual step by police, they stated that they are certain that later that day, last Thursday, Kolbig sexually abused and murdered Mitja.
The boy's body was found on Saturday evening in Kolbig's allotment.
Police said that he had died after being strangled. Kolbig himself could not be found.
Uwe Matthias, the criminal director of Leipzig police, said that it seemed Mitja had met the suspect at the tram stop and they had boarded together. "That is where the cameras filmed the man with the boy," he said.
But Mitja failed to get off at his stop, travelling further with Kolbig. By the time they got off the tram and went into a bakery where Mitja bought a piece of gooseberry cake, Mr Matthias said: "They seemed to have developed a trusting relationship." advertisement
He said: "The boy wanted the cake and the man allowed him to pick a piece out. The shop assistant did not notice any fear on the part of the boy."
The publication of Kolbig's photograph and the distribution of more than 4,000 leaflets in the area seemed to have yielded results, with more than 50 sightings of the suspect reported to police.
More than 200 officers were searching a woodland area north of Leipzig yesterday. They were quickly moved from one area to another after a member of the public said they had seen Kolbig on foot. "The dogs picked up a scent which we have been following," said a police spokesman.
But as darkness fell last night, the woodland search was abandoned. A police spokesman said: "The woods cannot be searched in the dark, but we are continuing work at the flat of the suspect and roads and streets in the area will be patrolled with dog teams. "We will also receive support from a team of federal police."
Mitja Hofmann and Uwe Kolbig
That sick bastard knows the camera's there and he's playing to it.
How heartbreaking.
As usual, the guy has already been in prison for this. Clearly a very effective treatment.
Like it or not, there's only one "treatment" that works for child molesters.
God, please comfort that little boy. He looked so happy and must have been so proud of that big day to be on his own.
Joe, I think you're right. Beyond sick.
Words fail me.
So US is not the only stupid government that allows sex perverts to run free.
That is indeed a chilling pic.
"Like it or not, there's only one "treatment" that works for child molesters."
Yep, a .45 cal slug in the forehead provides permanent adjustment from this perverted,evil behavior.
Vigilante Justice would be my solution to this problem regardless of the consequences. Hell in Europe I could just claim some sort of mental problem and be back out in a few months.
In Europe we have nothing so evil that we would use capital punishment.
Everything is an illness, or a disorder or whatever... we have no moral absolutes.
Why should he live after killing that boy?
A society should reflect it's outrage in the sentence.
The face of the Devil. It gets no more evil than this.
Gay rights. He was simply "expressing himself".
In America, the boy would be considered the villain, and the homo a poor defenseless victim.
When will people realize there is no "cure" for child molesters. They will NEVER change - never, ever, ever.
There are only 2 solutions - keep them locked up for the rest of their lives or execute them.
I know what my preference would be.
Tells you all you need to know about our criminal justice system.
Let the family of the boy decide & carry out this freaks' punishment. I know what I would choose if it were my son.
This type of crime has nothing to do with being "gay". Most gays like men - not little boys, just like most straights like women, not little girls.
Child molestation has nothing to do with sexual preference. Remember - far more little girls are molested than little boys.
A child is a child and anyone caught sexually abusing one needs to be removed from society. Permanently.
Did someone think he’d stop molesting children, and go on to discover a cure for cancer?
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