One of Germany's decades-old unsolved crimes has taken a dramatic turn.
An 81-year-old man has admitted in court to murdering American tourist Amy Lopez, 24, more than three decades ago. Lopez was in Germany in 1994 and was visiting the city of Koblenz when she disappeared.
According to the prosecution, the man met the young woman and lured her to a secluded area near the historic Ehrenbreitstein castle.
There, according to the indictment, he sexually assaulted her and then killed her.
The 24-year-old's body was later found, but for years investigators failed to identify the perpetrator.
The case remained open for more than three decades, until developments in the investigation led to the suspect.
On the first day of the trial in Koblenz, the 81-year-old admitted responsibility for the murder.
The case is another example of old crimes returning to court decades later, as modern investigative techniques give police the opportunity to reexamine evidence that once couldn't be analyzed in the same way.