German husband knifed to death in Hungary as wife fights for life – updated with tragic details, video

Hungarian police have arrested a German man after a brutal knife attack on a fellow German couple living in the country.

According to Infostart, the assault was reported shortly after noon on Wednesday. Police found the 66-year-old husband dead in the couple’s family home in Pacsa, a village in Zala county. His 70-year-old wife was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent immediate surgery.

Police spokeswoman Veronika Sznopek said officers issued an arrest warrant for a 63-year-old German national, who was detained on Thursday morning. He remains the prime suspect and is being held for questioning.

The victims were artists who had settled in the quiet Hungarian village.

Tamás Kelemen, Pacsa’s mayor, described the attack as unprecedented and said he was shocked. The couple had lived in the village for years, spending most of the year there. He offered condolences to the family and pledged updates as the investigation progresses.

A few days ago, we reported on Hungary’s efforts to attract Western European Christians, with the government portraying the country as a safe haven amid concerns over insecurity in parts of Western Europe. Unlike many neighbours, Hungary has tightly controlled immigration, allowing only about 100,000 guest workers who must leave when their contracts expire.

Here’s a corrected version in British English, styled in the measured, factual tone of The Telegraph—concise, with a touch of understated drama and community focus.

Further details emerge: perpetrator identified, locals mourn

According to Blikk, the perpetrator—a German pool builder—had known the family for years. Hailing from the same region of Germany, Renate and Jürgen, the German couple, had entrusted the 62-year-old W. M. Willi with renewing and covering their garden pool behind the family home in Pacsa.

Dissatisfied with the work, however, they refused to foot the bill. In response, Willi returned to the house armed with a knife and wearing fresh clothes, intent on settling the score.

A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she could not imagine how Renate had escaped in her blood-stained clothes, with the killer too fearful to pursue. Many locals spotted the perpetrator fleeing down the street; police hunted him for hours, even deploying drones, before arresting Willi at his home.

Lost safety

Another neighbour recalled how the German couple had embraced local life, joining events and balls. “They drew exceptionally beautiful pictures,” she said. “Everybody loved them.” The elderly woman added that she doubted the widow would stay in Pacsa after the tragedy.

A third resident complained that he had barely slept since the horrific events. “Pacsa is a quiet village,” he said. “Nothing like this murder has ever happened here. Everybody is mourning Jürgen—and the loss of our sense of safety.”

Hungarian police officers later tracked the suspect to his house in Somogy county, where they recovered the knife, along with illegal guns and ammunition for which he held no permit. He has refused to confess.

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Check out a video of the arrest: