At the beginning of the trial, his lawyer described the man who was accused of strangling his wife, a finalist in the Miss Switzerland pageant, and then grinding her remains in a blender, as an “ideal husband”. Marc Rieben (43) is charged with the murder of the then 38-year-old Kristina Joksimovićand the trial began under strict security measures due to the extremely disturbing details of the crime, writes the Daily Mail.
The mutilated body of Joksimović was found in their home in Binningen near Basel on February 13, 2024, and according to neighbors, their two small children also lived in the house.
Accused’s statement and defense
At the beginning of the trial, Rieben addressed the court claiming that he loved Kristina and that her death was an “accident”, although he admitted that he held her by the neck. Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, he entered the courtroom accompanied by his legal team.
His lawyer surprised those present by describing him as an “ideal husband”, and Rieben himself created the image of a caring father and husband, stating that he would “get up in the middle of the night to take care of the children” so that Kristina could rest. He said he was “just trying to help and take care of my wife”.
“I caused my family immense suffering. Why? Why did I make a mistake? Why couldn’t I prevent it? Why couldn’t I prevent her from dying by my hand? I loved my wife with all my heart and believed in our future together,” he said with teary eyes. “It haunts me day and night. What I did is absolutely inexcusable and I take full responsibility. I deeply regret and apologize.”
Findings of the court expert
The forensic expert, professor Frank Urbaniok, stated before the court that Rieben was diagnosed with narcissistic traits and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He pointed out that the accused acted with “almost meticulous precision”, recalling that after the murder he went to dinner with his two young children, acting as if nothing had happened.
“I’ve been working as a forensic expert for 33 years and I’ve overseen 5,000 cases. I’ve seen a lot of people who have committed intimate partner murders, but I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Urbaniok said.
He added that he believes that Rieben has a significant risk of repeating the criminal act. “The accused is an intellectual, a very strategic thinker. He wants to control everything and insists on following the rules. The victim, on the other hand, was more emotional,” the expert explained.
Monetary compensation and remorse
Rieben revealed that he paid his children and Kristina’s parents an amount of around 110,000 euros. “It would be wonderful if you could use it for something that would bring a little lightness into your lives,” he told them in the courtroom.
When asked by the court why he offered the money only now, after two years of proceedings, he replied: “Because this is the first opportunity to see the bereaved. This offer is valid regardless of the court’s decision. I simply want to show my support. It’s a gesture.”
“Human lives cannot be replaced, I can only offer my sympathy,” he continued. “I would like to express my deepest sympathy to all those affected for their suffering. Kristina is gone. Her joy in life, her bright smile – they are just gone. The world has collapsed.”
Arguments and marriage counseling
Speaking about the period leading up to Kristina’s murder, Rieben argued that although “the quarrels were at the forefront”, people should not forget that “they also had passion”. He claimed that he “admired” his wife and celebrated her “entrepreneurial success and ambitions.” He revealed that they had been going to marriage counseling since 2018, although they had only been married since 2017, and that “they were ready to work on themselves.”
During cross-examination, when asked if he regretted what happened, he replied: “It was an accident. I didn’t want it to happen, I didn’t choose it. I didn’t go to the kitchen to get the knife. She ended up dying in my arms. It’s tragic and unforgivable.”
When asked why he did not call an ambulance, he said: “Because there was simply no time. Everything happened so quickly, there was no opportunity.”
Terrible details from the indictment
The crime took place in February 2024 in Binnigen, an affluent town near Basel. According to the indictment, the motive for the murder was Rieben’s refusal to agree to a divorce. Prosecutors claim that he grabbed his wife by the neck, pushed her against the wall and choked her with a “cord-like object”, punching and kicking her in the process. They state that Kristina died a “painful death” and that Rieben acted “insidious, cruel and cold-blooded”.
After the murder, he allegedly took her body to the laundry room in the basement, where he dismembered it using a jigsaw, garden shears and a knife, and finally ground the pieces in a blender.
Because of the gruesome manner in which he disposed of the body, a charge of desecration of the corpse was added. The prosecution alleges that Rieben acted “knowingly and deliberately, with full awareness and from a selfish attitude characterized by the need for control, resentment, revenge and immense anger.”
Trial behind closed doors
Due to the gruesome details, the trial was closed to the public, and the courtroom in Muttenz was surrounded by police and security. The media follow the proceedings via video link.
Kristina’s father found his daughter’s body parts after he became concerned because she did not come to pick up the children. Her parents, the couple’s two children and a women’s rights association were named civil plaintiffs in the case. Among the witnesses, Kristina’s friends and Rieben’s former partner, who claims that he also assaulted her, are expected.
Rieben, who has been in custody since his arrest, denies all charges. The trial is expected to last the whole week, and the verdict should be announced on May 13.
(TYPE/Source: Index.hr/Photo: Instagram)
