Argentinian woman accused of helping step-brother Leandro Acosta kill their parents

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Karen Klein was accused of helping Leandro Acosta cover horrific murders
She told police she feared she would be killed as well if she did not help
Acosta 'violated' step-father's corpse, ate his flesh and impaled his mother
He has admitted the killings in revenge 'years of sexual abuse as a child'

By Simon Tomlinson for MailOnline

Published: 06:04 EST, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 06:56 EST, 20 October 2015

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A woman accused of helping her stepbrother kill, have sex with and then partially eat their parents has been released.

Karen Klein, 22, was set free after her lawyers argued she had acted under pressure from her co-accused, Leandro Yamil Acosta, 25.

They said she had helped him clear up after he shot his stepfather in the head then gunned down his mother when she returned a few hours later from taking his twin stepbrothers aged 11 to school.

He admitted to the killings and also said that he had eaten part of his father's flesh and had sex with the bodies.

Feared she might be killed as well: Karen Klein (above) has been released after being accused of helping her stepbrother kill, have sex with and then partially eat their parents. Lawyers successful argued that she had acted under pressure from her co-accused, Leandro Yamil Acosta, who has admitted to the killings

He then cut up the remains and burnt them before feeding what was left to the family's six dogs.

The young woman's lawyer, Monica Chirivin, said that Acosta had told her he had felt 'an orgasmic relief' after slaying his stepfather and his mother and that he had 'no regrets'.

The court accepted that there was not enough evidence to charge her with the murder of her father Ricardo Ignacio Klein, 54, and his partner Miryam Esther Kowalczuk, 52, who was Acosta's mother.

Frightened Klein said she was asleep at the family home in the city of Pilar in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, when the murders took place and had only agreed to help clear up because she felt that if she did not, he might kill her as well.

Some body parts were found outside on the terrace in paint pots and other parts are believed to have been taken to a local waste site.

Police also recovered cash worth £5,000, that they believe were the victims', a 9mm revolver, a rifle, a machete, three hatchets, two shovels and a pitchfork.

Prosecutor Marcelo Vaiani said the crime was motivated by the hate Acosta felt for his parents and he did it so that he could be left with the property and money.

Acosta claimed he was abused by his parents when he was younger and they were also abusing his 11-year-old twin stepbrothers who he wanted to protect.

Karen Klein (left), 22, and her step-brother Leandro Acosta (right), 25, who are also lovers

Gruesome discover: The murders were uncovered when police found part of the mother's pelvic bone and spine in a bucket, and 16 huge refuse bags 'containing human remains' in a nearby alley (pictured)

Earlier this month, Acosta's lawyer told MailOnline how the killer 'violated' his stepfather's corpse, ate his flesh and committed an obscene act over his dead mother's body.

Monica Chirivin revealed the entire, gruesome story of the murder in Pilar, Buenos Aires, as told by the Acosta himself.

From inside a special psychiatric unit, Acosta confessed he had been planning the gruesome murders of Ricardo Klein, 54, and mother Miryam Kowalczuk, 52, for some time.

His mental state had been worn away by the years of abuse he suffered at the hands of Mr Klein, who began raping him aged six, and Kowalczuk, who 'involved him in threesomes' as a boy.

Acosta shot Klein in the head while he slept in his underwear, got 'sexually excited' and began violating his dead body.

At that very moment, his mother walked into the room and began screaming: 'What have you done, you son of a b***h!'

He turned the gun on her and shot her – again and again. He later cooked his father's flesh over a pyre and ate it.

He said: 'It [the step-father's flesh] tasted like pork, a tad salty but delicious.'

Acosta felt no remorse for killing his mother, saying: 'She was a whore and a drunkard, I did justice my way.'

Sick: Earlier this month, Acosta's lawyer Monica Chirivin (left) told MailOnline how the Acosta (right) 'violated' his stepfather's corpse, ate his flesh and committed an obscene act over his dead mother's body. She revealed the entire, gruesome story of the murder in Pilar, Buenos Aires, as told by the Acosta himself

Chirivin said eating his step-father's flesh was 'almost a pleasure' for Acosta, who claimed he had been raped by several of his mother's lovers.

The murders were discovered when a relative could not get into the house and rang the police.

They found part of Kowalczuk's pelvic bone and spine in a bucket, along with more human flesh 'readied for consumption', and 16 huge refuse bags – some of which contained 'human remains'.

Police Chief Dario Lutter said they also found three recently-bought axes, a machete, a shotgun and a 9mm pistol.

Klein's body was never found but forensic tests on the garbage bags, found in the house's yard, may reveal its whereabouts.

Luminol tests have also been ordered to find traces of blood inside the house.

After murdering his parents, Acosta reported the couple as child molesters and requested a restraining order against them.

He then used the frame of a wheelbarrow to cart their bodies to a different section of the house where he kept them hidden for 11 days.

During this time, he beat the corpses, crushed the skulls and impaled his mother's body on a spike and committed an indecent act over her corpse.

In her official statement, Acosta's step-sister and lover, Karen, claimed she only helped him 'clean up'.

It had also been alleged that Karen may have also helped drag the bodies and light the fire which they used to obliterate the body parts.

Long-running feud: Horacio Klein (pictured), the brother of the slain father, said: 'My brother was a tough character but Leandro always answered back'

It was claimed that Acosta, who is wheelchair-bound and fitted with a colostomy bag because of a long-running intestinal disorder, did not have the physical strength to light the pyre or lug the bodies around.

Neighbours are said to have recognised Klein – who moved in with the murdered couple after the death of her own mother – at the scene where the horrible-smelling bonfire was lit.

Once their parents had been murdered and their corpses set ablaze, Klein went off to her yoga class and Acosta went to work as usual.

Case prosecutor Eduardo Viaini has not allowed a psychiatrist to interview Acosta, who claims he is 'haunted by voices' and once turned to the infamous Umbanda cult, which is well known for its animal sacrifices.

Acosta's lawyer claims Viaini has limited the counsel's access to the case, delayed the handing over of paperwork and postponed his 'formal accusation' for another month because the case is 'too complex'.

Acosta and Klein's 11-year-old siblings are with social security because their father's brothers do not want to care for them.

Acosta seems to agree. 'Not the Kleins, not the Kleins,' he repeated over and over, fearing what might befall them.

Raúl Klein, the brother of the slain father, thinks Acosta had been planning this for years.

Another brother, Horacio, said: 'My brother was a tough character but Leandro always answered back. Money was always the issue.'

Meanwhile Roberto Klein said: 'There has always been resentment between him and his stepson and I believe this was a long time coming.'

Ricardo Klein used to harass Acosta for not having a job and not bringing money into the home in spite of his manifest disabilities.

Police Chief Lutter said only female human remains had been found so far, adding: 'We received incoherent answers but heavily smoking fires had been raging for days.

The main bedroom was empty and the mattress had been burned.'