A German dentist accused of killing three people ruthlessly has refused to speak in court even as the trial began on Wednesday in the German port city of Kiel.

The 48-year-old man was accused of murdering his wife, her new partner, and another man on May 19, 2021, in a crime that attracted national attention in the German media.

The prosecution alleges that the motive was revenge – revenge on his wife for having left him; on her new partner; and on a third victim for having allegedly told the wife of the suspect’s own affairs, thereby causing the marriage to fall apart.

According to the prosecution, the attack was scrupulously planned. The suspect followed his wife in a rented vehicle, having previously hidden a tracker in her car, prosecutors said.

She was shot at her new partner’s house from just 1 meter away.

She was hit 48 times, and her partner was hit in his heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Afterward, the suspect allegedly drove to the acquaintance’s house and shot him five times in the head with a different, semi-automatic pistol.

On the evening after the shooting spree, the dentist confessed to the Hamburg police that he had carried out the crimes.

Since then, however, he has refused to speak about the allegations, including in court.

His lawyer said that he may be prepared to make a statement on March 10.

A second attorney in court accused the press of jumping to conclusions about the crime.

A verdict was expected on March 30.