A Spanish court sentenced Russian woman Svetlana Batukova to 14 years behind bars for killing her German husband. The 46-year-old drugged and stabbed 66-year-old Horst Hans Henkels inside their Majorca apartment during 2016. Henkels had recently undergone throat surgery and could not defend himself against the attack. Batukova used a kitchen knife to repeatedly stab her weakened husband before leaving him to die. The family dog later ate parts of the victim's body after Batukova dismembered the corpse.
Forensic experts proved the knife wounds caused Henkels' death and rejected Batukova's claim that the dog killed him. Police had visited the couple's home multiple times because of domestic violence reports. Prosecutors discovered Batukova had tried to hire someone to murder her husband before doing it herself. The court called the crime premeditated and cruel because of the continued mutilation after death. Batukova appealed her conviction during 2020 but lost when judges confirmed the forensic evidence.
Forensic experts proved the knife wounds caused Henkels' death and rejected Batukova's claim that the dog killed him. Police had visited the couple's home multiple times because of domestic violence reports. Prosecutors discovered Batukova had tried to hire someone to murder her husband before doing it herself. The court called the crime premeditated and cruel because of the continued mutilation after death. Batukova appealed her conviction during 2020 but lost when judges confirmed the forensic evidence.
