Martin Ney Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for the Murder of Jonathan Coulom

Nantes – 04.06.2026: The 55-year-old German serial killer Martin Ney was sentenced on Thursday by the jury chamber of Loire-Atlantique to life imprisonment for the murder of ten-year-old Jonathan Coulom in 2004. Ney, who is already serving a life sentence in Germany for the murders of three children, showed no reaction at the sentencing.

During the twelve-day trial in Nantes, Ney consistently professed his innocence. His defenders pleaded for acquittal. The prosecutor described Jonathan’s murder as the “criminal signature” of Martin Ney and expressed no doubt about his guilt.

The victim’s family was present at the sentencing and showed emotion. Jonathan’s stepfather stated to the press: “Finally, justice has been served for our son. He can now rest in peace.”

Jonathan Coulom disappeared during the night of April 6 to 7, 2004, on a school trip in Saint-Brévin-les-Pins. His body was found 43 days later in a pond about 30 kilometers from the holiday center, weighted down with a concrete block.

Martin Ney, a former educator from Bremen, was convicted in 2012 in Germany for the murders of three boys aged 8, 9, and 13 as well as numerous sexual assaults on minors. He had confessed to the crimes after infiltrating children’s homes and gaining access to the victims there.

Although Ney had confessed to the murders in Germany, he always denied killing Jonathan Coulom. The 163 volumes of investigation files contained no material evidence or DNA traces directly linking him to the murder in France. “I have revealed everything I had to reveal; the Jonathan case is not part of it,” Ney said during the trial.

A former cellmate, convicted in 2020 for false accusations, claimed since 2017 that Ney had confessed the act to him. Ney vehemently denied these statements.

The case attracted great attention in France and Germany as it once again illustrates the challenges of international legal assistance and cross-border investigations in serial crimes. The conviction in Nantes is seen as a significant step for the French judiciary, which with this verdict now closes this unsolved murder case from 2004.

The court’s decision finally brings justice to the victim’s family after 22 years. The case also highlights the importance of cooperation between European states in cases of sexual violence and child murder and sends a strong message against such crimes.

The prosecution announced that it will carefully review the verdict, while the defense has not ruled out further legal steps. Martin Ney will now serve his sentence in France, in addition to his existing life imprisonment in Germany.