German man sets wife on fire

News24 ^ | 10/08/2003

[demlosers]

Saarbrucken, Germany - Police in Germany blamed a record-breaking heat wave for making a quiet family man go berserk and set his wife on fire on Saturday as authorities urged Germans to try to keep their cool in the heat.

As temperatures soared to an all-time record of 42 degrees Celsius in southern Germany, the 56-year-old man and his wife sought refuge from the heat in their garden allotment in suburban Saarbrucken on Friday evening.

In what was believed to be a dispute over barbecue technique, the man poured charcoal lighter fuel over his wife and ignited it. The 55-year-old woman was reported to be in critical condition on Saturday with third-degree burns.

Heat-related altercations, knifings, shootings and domestic disputes have been reported nationwide. In eastern Germany a man stabbed his wife to death in a fight over whether to turn on the kitchen oven.

In Sinsheim, autobahn police stopped a Dutch animal transport after motorists reported that the cargo of 170 pigs appeared to be suffering in the heat.

Police said at least five pigs were dead and dozens of others were injured as the heat-crazed animals fought for access to water trough spigots.

In Berlin, authorities said they were considering power brownouts if the heat continues into next week.

A Berlin police spokesperson urged calm, saying: "People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the worst in people. They become aggressive and overwrought. We are urging people to keep their cool." - Sapa-DPA

[r9etb]

In what was believed to be a dispute over barbecue technique....

Well, OK then.... So it's not like it was unprovoked or anything.

[Trailerpark Badass]

People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the worst in people. They become aggressive and overwrought

Finally, a relevant argument for the need to combat global warming: it pisses the Germans off.

And we all know what results when the Germans are pissed off.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I guess this is one way I could get my wife to light the grill.

[scab4faa]

With the heat wave in France can you imagine the smell??

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

"People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the worst in people

Shouldn't that read, ""People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the wurst in people... ."

[Mr. Mojo]

Heat-related altercations, knifings, shootings and domestic disputes have been reported nationwide [in Germany]

As has been demontrated numerous times throughout the last century, the Germans simply can't take the heat.

[Tabi Katz]

"As has been demontrated numerous times throughout the last century, the Germans simply can't take the heat."

This poor woman sure did!

[mamelukesabre]

I don't understand this at all.

I react completely opposite when it's too hot. I go into energy conservation mode. I turn out all the lights, take off my clothes, open the windows but leave the shades pulled, and lay around on the floor(thank god for hardwood floors). The less you move around, the cooler you are. The fewer appliances and electronics you have running, the cooler your house is.

Can you tell I'm accustomed to NO A/C ?? I don't beleive in it. I think it's bad for your health. I think carpeting is bad for your health too, but that's a different matter.

When it's over a 100 degrees, stay out of the sun(if possible), stay away from alcohol and caffeine, eat cold food and very little red meat, and do NOT get a sunburn. Sunburns screw up your body's ability to regulate body temperature. Red meat boosts your metabolism and body temp...something that is beneficial in cold weather, but not so good when it's over 100 degrees F.

[jjbrouwer]

"People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the worst in people. They become aggressive and overwrought."

The Germans are like this most of the time anyway.

[Normal4me]

Ping.

[ClearCase_guy]

"People in Germany are not used to this kind of heat. It brings out the worst in people. They become aggressive and overwrought."

They say Glbal Warming is caused by SUVs, but I think there is evidence of a terrible heatwave affecting Germany from 1932 to 1945. That's before SUVs, unless you consider the Mark IV, Panther, and Tiger to be early SUV models.

[LaGrone]

Raw flesh on the barbie!

[jjbrouwer]

Actually, the Germans behave even worse when they go on their summer holidays to other people's countries. Long-suffering British holidaymakers have been victims of the German "Dawn deckchair raids" for years.

Typically, the Germans get up minutes after the Brits have got home from the bar and commandeer all the poolside deckchairs for the day by covering them with their sweaty towels.

[PatrickHenry]

In what was believed to be a dispute over barbecue technique, the man poured charcoal lighter fuel over his wife and ignited it.

Sounds like a heated argument.

[jjbrouwer]

It was a bit of a flame war.

[handk]

A "hunk of burning love" is a much better accelerant.

[DonQ]

In ancient Rome, if a heat wave persisted for more than three days, a man might kill his wife and not be prosecuted for murder.

[Grammy]

It brings out the wurst in people... ."

You,.... go to your room!
8-)

[dfwgator]

Raw flesh on the barbie!

What is it with Germans and burning people?