Court Case for Marc Rieben

May 3, 2026, 20:15
EuropeOther

Introduction

Marc Rieben will go to court. He killed his wife, Kristina Joksimovic, in February 2024.

Main Body

Marc and Kristina argued about their divorce and children. Marc killed Kristina. He used a ribbon to stop her breathing. After she died, Marc cut the body into small pieces in the basement. He used a knife and a saw. He also used chemicals to hide the body. He watched YouTube videos while he did this. Doctors say Marc is a bad person. He likes to control other people. He says Kristina attacked him, but the doctors do not believe him. They say he planned everything. Friends say Marc was mean to Kristina. He controlled her and the children. He did not let the children wear certain clothes.

Conclusion

The trial starts on May 4. The judge will give a decision on May 13.

Learning

The 'Past' Pattern

Look at these words from the story:

  • killed
  • argued
  • used
  • watched

The Secret: To talk about things that are finished, we usually just add -ed to the end of the word.

Examples from the text:

  • Control → Controlled (He controlled her)
  • Plan → Planned (He planned everything)

Action Words (Verbs)

These words tell us what happened. They are the 'engine' of the sentence:

  1. Stop →\rightarrow To make something end.
  2. Hide →\rightarrow To put something where no one can see it.
  3. Attack →\rightarrow To hurt someone.

Simple Word Groups

PersonActionObject
MarckilledKristina
Heuseda knife
The judgewill givea decision

Vocabulary Learning

court
a place where legal cases are heard
Example:The court will decide if Marc is guilty.
case
an instance of a situation or a legal proceeding
Example:This is a serious case of murder.
divorce
the legal ending of a marriage
Example:They went through a divorce last year.
children
young people who are not adults
Example:The children were left without a mother.
ribbon
a narrow strip of cloth used for decoration or tying
Example:He tied a ribbon around the box.
breathing
the act of inhaling and exhaling air
Example:She stopped breathing after the ribbon was tied.
basement
an underground room in a building
Example:He cut the body in the basement.
knife
a cutting tool with a sharp blade
Example:The knife was used to cut the body.
saw
a tool with a serrated blade for cutting
Example:The saw made a clean cut.
chemicals
substances that can cause reactions
Example:He used chemicals to hide the body.
watch
to look at something attentively
Example:He watches YouTube videos while he does this.
doctors
medical professionals who treat illnesses
Example:Doctors say Marc is a bad person.
bad
not good; poor quality
Example:Doctors say Marc is a bad person.
control
to influence or manage
Example:He likes to control other people.
mean
unfriendly or harsh
Example:Friends say Marc was mean to Kristina.
decision
a conclusion or choice after considering options
Example:The judge will give a decision on May 13.