In the 12th century, cannibalism in Egypt was widespread. Killing and cannibalizing another human being for food - that has happened in every human society since the dawn of history. Historically there have been two kinds of cannibalism. The problem is no one knows how many people around the world fantasize about cannibalism, but it is only one short step across the border from fantasy to reality and Meiwes may be just one of thousands who took the step.ДЄ: Definitely not. When he advertised on the Internet for volunteers to be eaten, cannibalized, there were at least 204 volunteers. Meiwes testified under oath that he participated in at least 430 cannibal Web sites and chat rooms. One previous headline read: This is Armin - he has gobbled up Bernd from Berlin.ДЄ: Definitely not. It has been front-page news throughout the trial, especially the tabloids.

Meiwes' cannibalism has probably scarred the people of Kassel, for some of them in ways we could never imagine. This is not supposed to happen in a tidy, democratically ordered German society. Germany has no statute forbidding cannibalism.ДЄ: Most Germans are aghast yet fascinated at the idea of a cannibal in their midst.

That would have carried a maximum sentence of five years. Meiwes' attorney had argued for conviction on a lesser charge of killing on demand, a kind of euthanasia. In Meiwes' case, that amounted to butchering and devouring 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of his victim Bernd Juergen Brandes. The second charge was disturbing the peace of the dead. The most serious charge was murder for sexual pleasure which would have carried a maximum sentence of 15 years. Q: What are the legal implications of his case?ДЄ: Meiwes was tried on two charges. When one Austrian discovered Meiwes' advertisements on the Internet they reported him to the police. But it was the net which brought him down. Armin Meiwes openly advertised on the Internet to satisfy his appetite for human flesh. CNN's Senior International Correspondent Walter Rodgers explains the background to the case.ДЄ: This case of cannibalism would never have occurred without the Internet. KASSEL, Germany (CNN) - A five-judge panel has sentenced a self-confessed cannibal to eight and a half years for manslaughter.

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