BBC News | EUROPE | Sex doll fan mistaken for murderer

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Tuesday, 26 March, 2002, 15:22 GMT

Sex doll fan mistaken for murderer

Munich is famous for its beer, rather than its sex dolls

A German man suspected of murder has been cleared by police after it emerged a "corpse" in his possession was in fact a new addition to his sex doll collection.

" It appears we disturbed him as he was acquainting himself with his recent purchase "
Peter Reichl
Munich police

In a case reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "Rear Window", a zealous neighbour called the police after seeing the man carrying what he believed was a dead body into his flat in the city of Munich.

Officers from the city police department travelled immediately to the building.

Alfred Hitchcock

"It appears we disturbed him as he was acquainting himself with his recent purchase," spokesman Peter Reichl told BBC News Online.

The doll, he added, was of a silicone variety - giving it a more lifelike appearance than the standard blow-up toy.

Police left the man, who was "surprised and upset" by the questioning, after he showed them his collection of dolls.

He now has four.

He was offered the department's profuse apologies, Mr Reichl said. It is not clear whether the caller has also apologised for causing upset to his neighbour.

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Germany's 'queen of erotica' dies (18 Jul 01 | Europe)