quote:

Prosecutors had sought a murder conviction which carries an automatic life sentence for the bizarre slaying of Bernd-Juergen Brandes, at Meiwes' home in March 2001.

Meiwes admitted he had killed, dismembered and partially devoured Brandes, but maintained that the man was a willing partner.

The defense had sought an acquittal or at most five years in prison with parole, insisting he was guilty of nothing more than "assisted suicide" because Brandes was a masochist with a castration and mutilation fetish

quote:

Testifying on Monday on his own behalf Meiwes said "I did want to eat him, but I didn't want to kill him."

Meiwes and Brandes met through an internet bulletin board or BBS for gay men interested in a cannibalism fetish.

"If you are between 18 and 25 years old you are my boy. Come to me and I eat your horny flesh" his ad said.

He told police that the two men had enjoyed a final meal together. Brandes had agreed to be castrated and the two sautéed his penis and testicles. They washed down the meal with a German white wine.