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| Albrecht Muth sentenced to 50 years in 2011 slaying of Viola Drath | Albrecht Muth sentenced to 50 years in 2011 slaying of Viola Drath |
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| Albrecht Gero Muth, the 49-year-old German man convicted of the 2011 fatal beating and strangulation of his 91-year-old wife in her Georgetown home, was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison. | Albrecht Gero Muth, the 49-year-old German man convicted of the 2011 fatal beating and strangulation of his 91-year-old wife in her Georgetown home, was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison. |
| D.C. prosecutors had asked that Muth be sentenced to life in prison. He was convicted in January of first-degree murder in the death of socialite and former journalist Viola Drath. | D.C. prosecutors had asked that Muth be sentenced to life in prison. He was convicted in January of first-degree murder in the death of socialite and former journalist Viola Drath. |
| During the hearing in D.C. Superior Court, Judge Russell F. Canan called Muth, a once-strapping man who told neighbors he was an Iraqi general, a “common, serial, domestic violence abuser, made worse when he drank, who subjected Ms. Drath to many years of abuse.” | During the hearing in D.C. Superior Court, Judge Russell F. Canan called Muth, a once-strapping man who told neighbors he was an Iraqi general, a “common, serial, domestic violence abuser, made worse when he drank, who subjected Ms. Drath to many years of abuse.” |
| Muth, whose health has declined because of periodic fasting started after his arrest, did not appear in court Wednesday. He participated via video-conference from a hospital bed, where he had a white blanket pulled up to his neck. | Muth, whose health has declined because of periodic fasting started after his arrest, did not appear in court Wednesday. He participated via video-conference from a hospital bed, where he had a white blanket pulled up to his neck. |
| Other than answering simple questions from the judge, Muth declined to speak at the hearing. His attorney, Dana Page, read a letter from her client. “I affirm my innocence,” he said in the letter. “My conviction is a miscarriage of justice.” | |
| During his January trial, Muth’s attorneys argued that there was no proof that Muth killed his wife of 20 years. Authorities had no DNA evidence and no eyewitnesses. | During his January trial, Muth’s attorneys argued that there was no proof that Muth killed his wife of 20 years. Authorities had no DNA evidence and no eyewitnesses. |
| Prosecutors argued that Drath’s death was the culmination of years of domestic abuse. She had several fractured ribs, bruises to her spine and scratches around her neck, prosecutors said. The scratches, they said, occurred when Drath tried to fight off Muth as he strangled her. She fought so hard, they said, that one of her thumbnails broke off. | Prosecutors argued that Drath’s death was the culmination of years of domestic abuse. She had several fractured ribs, bruises to her spine and scratches around her neck, prosecutors said. The scratches, they said, occurred when Drath tried to fight off Muth as he strangled her. She fought so hard, they said, that one of her thumbnails broke off. |
| When Muth and Drath began dating shortly before their 1990 nuptials, Drath’s relatives and friends were wary of her much younger suitor. Muth often wore an eye patch and said he had lost the eye while fighting as a mercenary in South America, but he later stopped wearing the patch. He had a military uniform — which prosecutors say he ordered online — and wore it on the streets of Georgetown, telling neighbors he was an Iraqi general. | When Muth and Drath began dating shortly before their 1990 nuptials, Drath’s relatives and friends were wary of her much younger suitor. Muth often wore an eye patch and said he had lost the eye while fighting as a mercenary in South America, but he later stopped wearing the patch. He had a military uniform — which prosecutors say he ordered online — and wore it on the streets of Georgetown, telling neighbors he was an Iraqi general. |
| But Drath — a former fashion and political writer and a playwright — initially found Muth fascinating and attentive, her relatives said. | But Drath — a former fashion and political writer and a playwright — initially found Muth fascinating and attentive, her relatives said. |
| At the time of his arrest, Muth told police that his wife died in a fall. Then he told authorities that his wife died as a result of a failed Iranian assassination attempt that was meant for him. | At the time of his arrest, Muth told police that his wife died in a fall. Then he told authorities that his wife died as a result of a failed Iranian assassination attempt that was meant for him. |
| In the letter read by Paige in court, Muth said he called “on my Iranian brothers to advise the U.S. Government of my innocence.” | In the letter read by Paige in court, Muth said he called “on my Iranian brothers to advise the U.S. Government of my innocence.” |
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