Hamburg hitman Werner Pinzner shot prosecutor, wife, then self during interrogation 40 years ago

The murder weapon is now on display at the Hamburg Police Museum. Source: Marcus Brandt/dpa

This crime is unforgettable not only in Hamburg. At the end of July 1986, contract killer Werner Pinzner shot a public prosecutor, his partner, and himself during an interrogation. A court reporter who was present recalls the act.

The Bloodbath at Police Headquarters

40 years ago, an unimaginable bloodbath shook the Hamburg police and politics. During an interrogation of contract killer Werner Pinzner at police headquarters on July 29, 1986, the 39-year-old suddenly pulled out a revolver, shot at public prosecutor Wolfgang Bistry, and fatally wounded him. Pinzner then shot his wife Jutta, who was present at the interrogation, and finally himself.

Two criminal investigators managed to flee the room unharmed, while the killer spared a young court reporter and his lawyer, Isolde Oechsle-Misfeld.

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Background on the Killer

Pinzner – nicknamed "Mucki" – had been arrested three months earlier, on April 15, 1986, by a mobile task force in Hamburg-Steilshoop. He confessed to five murders in Kiel, Hamburg, and Munich. His victims came from the pimp milieu. Pinzner killed for money and on behalf of big shots on St. Pauli.

His murder weapons are now on display at the Hamburg Police Museum: a revolver of the brand Arminius and one from the manufacturer Smith & Wesson, both caliber 38.

Revolver Smuggled in Underwear

Another revolver of this brand lies under a display case. Pinzner's wife smuggled this weapon under her skirt into police headquarters on July 29, 1986, which was then located in a high-rise building at Berliner Tor. Before the interrogation, she went to a restroom and put the revolver in her handbag. A reenacted photo shows how she must have carried the weapon wrapped in a kitchen towel in her underwear.

Wife Jutta Pinzner had smuggled the weapon in her underwear into the interrogation. Source: Marcus Brandt/dpa

In the specially secured interrogation room on the fourth floor, Jutta Pinzner sat next to her husband, who had been brought from the detention center to police headquarters. She had hung her handbag over the back of the chair so that the killer could quickly grab it.

Pinzner's defense attorney, Isolde Oechsle-Misfeld, had been involved in procuring the revolver and knew about the violent criminal's plans. In 1992, she was sentenced by the Hamburg Regional Court to six and a half years in prison for aiding and abetting murder. As a defendant, the lawyer stated that the Smith & Wesson had been delivered to her office hidden in a flower pot.

Pinzner Demands Coffee and Rolls

On the day of the crime, she entered the interrogation room with Jutta Pinzner without being checked. Relatively quickly, the two police officers, the court reporter, public prosecutor Bistry, the Pinzner couple, and she herself had gathered in the cramped room. As in previous interrogations, the couple sat next to each other.

Around 10:20 a.m., the interrogation began — which was to be the last at the police station. "Mr. Pinzner is again informed of his rights" — with this sentence, the interrogation protocol shown in the museum breaks off.

Pinzner initially did not behave unusually, reported criminal investigator Max von Oosting as a witness in court. The interrogation was conducted with a "casual tone." However, Pinzner initially did not want to confess to his murders but made several diversionary maneuvers. "First he wanted coffee, then something to eat." Shortly after he had gotten rolls, it became very quiet in the room. "And then Pinzner stood up and suddenly had a weapon in his hand."

Court Reporter Witnesses Everything

She crawled under her work desk when the murderer aimed the weapon at the public prosecutor and pulled the trigger, the court reporter said as a witness in the trial in 1991. "There, Mr. Bistry practically fell at my feet — he was still groaning." Before the shot at the 40-year-old public prosecutor, Pinzner had...