The most notorious cannibalism case in post-war Latvia: events on Šarlotes Street
In 1947, three family members – mother Anna Shakele, daughter Emilia Shakele, and son-in-law Pavel Palchinsky – stood trial in the Supreme Court of the Latvian SSR for a shocking cannibalism crime that is still remembered nearly 80 years later.
Riga had not yet fully recovered from the devastation of World War II when, in 1947, the Supreme Court of the Latvian SSR heard a case that shocked the public. Three members of one family sat on the defendants' bench: mother Anna Shakele, her daughter Emilia Shakele, and the daughter's husband Pavel Palchinsky. They were accused of a crime so incomprehensible and brutal that it is still talked about almost 80 years later. This case is considered one of the most prominent cannibalism cases in post-war Latvia.
The events took place on Šarlotes Street, and although detailed information about the circumstances of the crime and the court verdict has been lost over time, the shocking nature of the case remains in collective memory. Contemporary society was horrified by such savage behavior, and the case became a subject of widespread discussion. Today, it is still recalled as an example of how far a person can fall and how war and destruction can affect moral standards. However, a precise reconstruction of events is difficult, as many documents have been lost or are not fully accessible. This case remains a dark page in Latvia's post-war history, reminding us of the fragile line between civilization and barbarism.
