A former lottery millionaire who became a self-styled countess after marrying another millionaire hired a contract killer to kill her wealthy husband using an axe so she could enjoy her luxury lifestyle on his money.

The case where the husband only survived being hit with the axe and stabbed when a neighbour intervened is being heard at the Munich II Regional Court in Germany and the verdicts were delivered on Wednesday, 27th August.

Images from the courtroom show the lotto millionaire Patricia S., not fully named because of local privacy laws, holding a file folder in front of her face to shield her face from photographers.

Picture shows the defendant Patricia S., 58, undated. She was sentenced to life for a murder plot against her husband in Munich, Germany. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)

The court heard how her husband, 56-year-old Bernd S., was attacked by a hitman outside his house in the Dachau district shortly before 10pm on 27th February 2024.

Bulgarian-national Radi S., 33, who had been hired to kill him, had been waiting with an axe and a combat knife in a passageway between the house and the garage.

He struck the victim three times on the head and also stabbed him with the knife.

However, the victim survived because a neighbour surprised the attacker and intervened.

Picture shows the murder weapon, undated. Patricia S. was sentenced to life for murder plot against her husband in Munich, Germany. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)

The court heard that Patricia S., 58, had plotted the murder with her daughter Cindy W., 29, and Cindy’s partner Nico B.

Judges ruled she wanted to get her husband’s money and felt oppressed by him.

She had previously won EUR 1.2 million (GBP 1 million) in the lottery in 2018 but by mid-2023 managed to spend most of it.

The court heard she had initially planned to poison her husband but abandoned the idea before deciding to hire a killer.

She gave Radi S. the axe herself, and her daughter allegedly handed over an advance payment of EUR 20,000 (GBP 17,300) in Bulgaria.

Picture shows the scene of the crime in the Munich area, Germany, undated. It shows traces of blood on the walls. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)

Radi S. was promised EUR 50,000 (GBP 43,200) in total to kill Bernd.

The court sentenced Patricia S. and Radi S. to life imprisonment for attempted murder.

Her daughter Cindy W. and Nico B. were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Only Patricia S, admitted guilt during the trial.

Her husband who survived the attempted murder later divorced her.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)