If Jens' confessions to the authorities were to protect Elizabeth, then what was his motive in describing in detail his heinous crime to a 17 year old German with whom he was imprisoned?
He's actually admitted to that confession since his release, and says it was to try to project a tough persona in jail. Make of that what you will, but English "remand centre" weren't exactly hotbeds of violence, and both he and Schroeder had jobs in the centre.
Another question, one asked by Judge Sweeney and Jim Updike, is if he wanted to protect Elizabeth, why did he make statements to the police on June 5, 1986 -- long before Elizabeth confessed -- which indicated Elizabeth was guilty as an accessory before the fact to murder? This was a crime which carried a potential life sentence, and which she eventually received 90 years in prison for.
His answer, as he gave it in his cross-examination, is that they "both" decided it wouldn't be
plausible for him to exclude her from all responsibility -- or even merely implicate her has an accessory after the fact (which carries a much lighter penalty). Because everybody supposedly knew she hated her parents, and wouldn't buy a version in which she had no involvement in their deaths. Of course she denied this, and the jury certainly didn't buy it. I doubt anyone in the courtroom did.
Really, it's startling how many otherwise sane and intelligent people have accepted this sort of nonsense at face value. To put it more accurately, though, many of his supporters don't even know he made this flimsy argument. When I prove it to them but citing the court transcript, they usually go silent, or thank me for showing them Söring's claims have no merit. The other fact that has convinced thousands of people is Söring initially claiming his confessions were coerced by Kenneth Beever's threat to harm Elizabeth -- a claim which he later abandoned when the judge ruled he was lying.
In his conversations with the 17 year old German, Jens went into detail about his relationship with Elizabeth's parents, their threats to him if he did not stop seeing her, his trip to Loose Chippings, and his confrontation with Elizabeth's father which led to his murdering him and Elizabeth's mother. He also gave details about why and how he murdered the Haysoms - details that only the murderer would know.
That's correct, and I think Schroeder's account can't be dismissed out of hand. However, to say Schroeder has credibility problems is a huge understatement. He's gone on to be convicted of murder and fraud, and also has an extreme and deeply warped obsession with Söring. That's why I never cite his account without caveats. I've come to believe his account is likely fairly reliable on the facts, but unfortunately his credibility in general is totally shot. Citing him as a source simply invites Team Söring to come back with "You call *this* guy a credible source?" and that would be one of the rare occasions when they have a point.
Mathias’ crimes are undeniable; however, he knows far too many details to believe the fact that Jens’ confession to him was bogus. For instance:
Haysom’s were opposed to the relationship
Haysom’s were influential in the USA
If Jens did not cut contact with Elizabeth, they threatened him with removal from UVA, bouncing his father out of the USA, having him sent back to Germany and Elizabeth to Canada.
Jens made a plan to confront the Haysoms and did not exclude killing them thereby created an alibi with Elizabeth (cinema tickets, meals, etc.)
Jens received by her parents who were at “lunch” and was offered a drink.
Derek had a fierce opinion and could not be convinced to change his mind.
Jens then decided to kill them.
Derek had “a significant strength” and was stronger than expected.
After Jens cut Derek’s neck, he was still somehow able to defend himself.
Nancy came from behind and began to beat Jens on his back - then went off to get a knife.
Jens struggled with her until she was dead.
Jens drove back to DC and told Elizabeth that there was no other alternative.
Jens refused to give his finger and foot prints because he feared that he had left prints at the crime scene.
Considered killing Ricky Gardner but was deterred by Elizabeth.
Jens persuaded Elizabeth to go with him “on the run.”
He stole blank German passports from his father, faked an identity, and planned to live on fraud in the future.
Considered killing his grandmother while in Switzerland so that she would not call his parents and tell them where he was. He feared that his parents’ phone might be tapped and give him away.
Elizabeth convinced him not to kill his grandmother and, after stealing jewels and money from her, they "disappeared in a Jiffy.”
Mathias also knew about the book of instructions on how to build a bomb that was found in Jen’s and Elizabeth’s flat in London.
Mathias wrote: “ I am ready to make an affidavit to the before said statement at any time, whenever the need should arise. I could make this in a Consular of the USA, or at a notary public office here in Europe.”
Some other notes;
Mathias also wrote to Elizabeth, “ When we talked about the case for the first time, he has surrendered. He did not know about the German law system and that he could get trialed there according to the juveniles laws with a maximum sentence of ten years for any crime if your state of mind being already over 18 buy still under 21 would be considered as mature only a juvenile as under 18 still. I was the one who told him this. Nowadays, he claims he had known before and made the confession only because he wanted to save your life and he would be trialed in Germany as a juvenile with a maximum sentence threatening him with 10 years.”
Jens fled the country before Elizabeth leaving her behind with the commitment that she would follow him. In one of her journals she writes that she had a choice to make and decided to follow him. Factors in her choice: did not want to deal with his taking off; loneliness; desire to be in Europe again.
If Jens' confessions to the authorities were to protect Elizabeth, then what was his motive in describing in detail his heinous crime to a 17 year old German with whom he was imprisoned?
He's actually admitted to that confession since his release, and says it was to try to project a tough persona in jail. Make of that what you will, but English "remand centre" weren't exactly hotbeds of violence, and both he and Schroeder had jobs in the centre.
Another question, one asked by Judge Sweeney and Jim Updike, is if he wanted to protect Elizabeth, why did he make statements to the police on June 5, 1986 -- long before Elizabeth confessed -- which indicated Elizabeth was guilty as an accessory before the fact to murder? This was a crime which carried a potential life sentence, and which she eventually received 90 years in prison for.
His answer, as he gave it in his cross-examination, is that they "both" decided it wouldn't be
plausible for him to exclude her from all responsibility -- or even merely implicate her has an accessory after the fact (which carries a much lighter penalty). Because everybody supposedly knew she hated her parents, and wouldn't buy a version in which she had no involvement in their deaths. Of course she denied this, and the jury certainly didn't buy it. I doubt anyone in the courtroom did.
Really, it's startling how many otherwise sane and intelligent people have accepted this sort of nonsense at face value. To put it more accurately, though, many of his supporters don't even know he made this flimsy argument. When I prove it to them but citing the court transcript, they usually go silent, or thank me for showing them Söring's claims have no merit. The other fact that has convinced thousands of people is Söring initially claiming his confessions were coerced by Kenneth Beever's threat to harm Elizabeth -- a claim which he later abandoned when the judge ruled he was lying.
In his conversations with the 17 year old German, Jens went into detail about his relationship with Elizabeth's parents, their threats to him if he did not stop seeing her, his trip to Loose Chippings, and his confrontation with Elizabeth's father which led to his murdering him and Elizabeth's mother. He also gave details about why and how he murdered the Haysoms - details that only the murderer would know.
That's correct, and I think Schroeder's account can't be dismissed out of hand. However, to say Schroeder has credibility problems is a huge understatement. He's gone on to be convicted of murder and fraud, and also has an extreme and deeply warped obsession with Söring. That's why I never cite his account without caveats. I've come to believe his account is likely fairly reliable on the facts, but unfortunately his credibility in general is totally shot. Citing him as a source simply invites Team Söring to come back with "You call *this* guy a credible source?" and that would be one of the rare occasions when they have a point.
https://hammeltranslations.com/2020/06/08/the-mysterious-menacing-dr-mathias-schroder/
Mathias’ crimes are undeniable; however, he knows far too many details to believe the fact that Jens’ confession to him was bogus. For instance:
Haysom’s were opposed to the relationship
Haysom’s were influential in the USA
If Jens did not cut contact with Elizabeth, they threatened him with removal from UVA, bouncing his father out of the USA, having him sent back to Germany and Elizabeth to Canada.
Jens made a plan to confront the Haysoms and did not exclude killing them thereby created an alibi with Elizabeth (cinema tickets, meals, etc.)
Jens received by her parents who were at “lunch” and was offered a drink.
Derek had a fierce opinion and could not be convinced to change his mind.
Jens then decided to kill them.
Derek had “a significant strength” and was stronger than expected.
After Jens cut Derek’s neck, he was still somehow able to defend himself.
Nancy came from behind and began to beat Jens on his back - then went off to get a knife.
Jens struggled with her until she was dead.
Jens drove back to DC and told Elizabeth that there was no other alternative.
Jens refused to give his finger and foot prints because he feared that he had left prints at the crime scene.
Considered killing Ricky Gardner but was deterred by Elizabeth.
Jens persuaded Elizabeth to go with him “on the run.”
He stole blank German passports from his father, faked an identity, and planned to live on fraud in the future.
Considered killing his grandmother while in Switzerland so that she would not call his parents and tell them where he was. He feared that his parents’ phone might be tapped and give him away.
Elizabeth convinced him not to kill his grandmother and, after stealing jewels and money from her, they "disappeared in a Jiffy.”
Mathias also knew about the book of instructions on how to build a bomb that was found in Jen’s and Elizabeth’s flat in London.
Mathias wrote: “ I am ready to make an affidavit to the before said statement at any time, whenever the need should arise. I could make this in a Consular of the USA, or at a notary public office here in Europe.”
Some other notes;
Mathias also wrote to Elizabeth, “ When we talked about the case for the first time, he has surrendered. He did not know about the German law system and that he could get trialed there according to the juveniles laws with a maximum sentence of ten years for any crime if your state of mind being already over 18 buy still under 21 would be considered as mature only a juvenile as under 18 still. I was the one who told him this. Nowadays, he claims he had known before and made the confession only because he wanted to save your life and he would be trialed in Germany as a juvenile with a maximum sentence threatening him with 10 years.”
Jens fled the country before Elizabeth leaving her behind with the commitment that she would follow him. In one of her journals she writes that she had a choice to make and decided to follow him. Factors in her choice: did not want to deal with his taking off; loneliness; desire to be in Europe again.
The original “New Detectives” episode that this snippet was taken from is available in English (not just French):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B9KOBOaUUoY&pp=ygUbbmV3IGRldGVjdGl2ZXMgc29iZWsgaGF5c29t
The Haysom case starts at 36:37 into the episode.
Thanx for sucking up my youtubelink😂 linking Soering to the scene. So let's focus on the bloody shoe imprints now.