The True-Crime evening on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 7:30 PM offers insights into real murder investigations, offender psychology, and the methods of operational case analysis – based on the book “Die Psyche des Bösen”, more exciting than any crime novel.
What makes people into murderers? How do they choose their victims? “I want to understand why people kill” – under this guiding principle, Axel Petermann provides insights into his work as an investigator and case analyst.
As a former head of a homicide commission in Bremen, Petermann investigated over many years cases of unnatural death and significantly contributed to the development of methods of operational case analysis in Germany. Based on real case constellations, he shows how clues, decisions at the crime scene, and the behavior of offenders can lead to conclusions about motive, personality, and the course of the crime. His investigations show that cases are often prematurely closed.
In addition to his work in investigative contexts, Axel Petermann publishes specialized books and appears in readings and interviews as an expert on violent crime. He has also served as a specialist consultant for "Tatort" episodes, among others from Bremen, Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Münster, for TV documentaries, and crime authors.
Biography:
Axel Petermann, born in 1952, handled more than 1,000 cases as the head of a homicide commission in Bremen and as deputy head in the violent crimes department, where people died unnatural deaths. In 2000, he founded the “Operational Case Analysis” office in Bremen, of which he was the head until his retirement in 2014. Since then, he has worked as a lecturer in criminalistics at various German universities.
He has also served since 2001 as a specialist consultant for "Tatort" episodes from Bremen, Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Münster, for TV documentaries, and crime authors such as Thea Dorn and Nele Neuhaus, as well as hosting the ZDF series “Aufgeklärt – Spektakuläre Kriminalfälle”.
His podcast “Das entscheidende Indiz”, produced since 2023 together with Teresa Sickert, is very popular. Petermann has repeatedly appeared on the “Spiegel” bestseller list with his books, including “Der Profiler” (2015) and “Im Auftrag der Toten” (2021). In addition to his work, Petermann is active as an ambassador and patron for the victim organization ANUAS, advocating for the rights of the relatives of violent crime victims.
Admission: 6:30 PM
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