Dr. Heinrich Wilmer said the cannibal, Armin Meiwes, had a personality disorder but did not need to be kept in a psychiatric hospital.

Prosecutors accuse Meiwes of murder, although they accept the man he killed and ate was a willing victim.

While murder carries a life sentence, the lesser charge -- brought in cases of "mercy killing" -- is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Wilmer said his motivation was less sexual than the fulfilment of an urge caused by the fact that his father abandoned him, and the rest of his family, when he was young.

He said the defendant placed his first advertisements for a victim out of a mixture of "farce and madness" but soon became deadly serious.

Wilmer told the court in Kassel that Meiwes was immature and lacked self-control, and that eating human flesh served as a "kick" to stimulate his emotions.