The 64-year-old, who had previously starred in a tv show about his large family, faces ten years in prison for abusing ten of his 12 children, as well as two of their friends, between 2001 and 2022
A so-called “superdad” who was celebrated for his parenting and starred in television shows has admitted abusing ten of his dozen children, a court heard.
Known only as Steffan H, German media say he abused his own kids and two of their young friends for more than two decades. A court in Saxony heard how he carried out the abuse from when the children were as young as three.
Steffan H had appeared in German television shows since 2006 when he had to raise his children by himself when their mother suddenly left. He was nicknamed Papawittchen (Papa White) – formed from the German words for Snow White and Dad – as cameras followed his attempts to raise the brood alone.
His second wife, Mandy K, with whom he shared five children, told the court she knew nothing of her husband’s sick crimes. She is co-plaintiff, with the children.
Now aged 64, he said in court: “I am ashamed of the heinous acts against my own children and two friends. I want to go to therapy so that my children will forgive me. I still love my children very much.”
The crimes are said to have been committed between 2001 and 2022. Dominik Schulz, president of the Chemnitz Court told RTL : “It is true that no one ever claims to have noticed anything.
“That the children were, let’s say, available for so long. A truly terrible procedure and, from a human perspective, really difficult to understand.”
The trial is set to go on for five more days, but his victims will not have to testify as a result of his guilty plea. A verdict is expected by the end of next month.
He faces ten years in prison.
