Execution on the Open Road
On May 10, 2023, at approximately 8:15 AM, elementary school teacher Carolin Göbel was driving on the A9 toward Berlin and her job at an elementary school in Kleinmachnow. Between the Niemegk and Treuenbrietzen exits, she was overtaken by a Mercedes C-Class that pulled alongside her VW Golf. From the passenger seat, at least five shots from a 9mm pistol were fired. The bullets pierced through the car's side windows and struck the 40-year-old teacher multiple times. Her vehicle collided with the guardrail and came to a stop. Carolin Göbel died shortly after from her severe injuries.
The brutal murder occurred in the middle of morning traffic, and numerous motorists witnessed the assault. The two perpetrators fled but were quickly identified through surveillance footage from gas stations and DNA evidence found in the stolen getaway car. Already the next day, Patrik B. and Kevin S. were arrested by state criminal police in Brandenburg. The CZ pistol used in the shooting was recovered during a house search.
Revenge Born from Family Conflict
Patrik B., a 30-year-old unemployed man from the Berlin-Brandenburg area, was the former partner of Carolin Göbel's sister. The relationship produced children but was followed by intense disputes over child support and custody. Carolin Göbel stood in solidarity with her sister and openly criticized her former brother-in-law. Patrik B. could not accept this interference and decided to seek revenge.
Investigations revealed that he had planned the murder over several weeks. The 29-year-old Kevin S. from Berlin was recruited as the driver and helped plan the escape. The prosecution was able to prove that both men deliberately chose the time when Carolin Göbel regularly drove to work. This was a premeditated murder, not a spontaneous act.
Trial at the Regional Court
On January 15, 2024, the prosecution filed charges for murder as co-perpetrators. The case was tried at the Regional Court in Frankfurt (Oder) from January 16, 2024, and lasted eleven months with a total of 25 trial days. Patrik B. confessed to the act early in the proceedings and acknowledged that he wanted to "take revenge." Kevin S. claimed he was merely the driver and did not know his partner would shoot to kill. He alleged he believed it was a "warning shot."
This claim was completely contradicted by ballistic expertise and witness testimony. The five shots were fired from a distance of two to three meters directly at the driver. Judge Dr. Anne-Kathrin Hänsch described the act in her judgment as "cold-blooded and reckless." On November 28, 2024, the verdict was delivered: Patrik B. was sentenced to life imprisonment with a finding of particular gravity. Kevin S. received twelve years imprisonment for aiding and abetting murder. Neither man appealed, and the sentence is now final.
A Teacher Remembered
Carolin Göbel had worked as an elementary school teacher in Kleinmachnow for over 15 years and was beloved by colleagues, parents, and students. She was dedicated, empathetic, and reliable. Her school held a memorial service following her death, which was attended by several hundred people. Many former students remembered a teacher who had given them courage and supported their development.
The case shook Germany because it demonstrated how vulnerable people can be—even behind the wheel on a well-traveled motorway. Violence in public spaces took on new dimensions. Security experts discussed the increased occurrence of targeted murders on motorways following the crime and the difficulty of preventing such offenses. For Carolin Göbel's family, it leaves a wound that will never fully heal.
Her sister testified in court and said she would never be able to forgive herself for the fact that her personal conflicts led to her sister's death.
