Berlin - A 40-year-old German who was convinced he had cancer persuaded a close friend to stab him to death, but doctors say the victim was cancer-free, according to prosecutors Friday.

The friend, 32, phoned an ambulance Thursday in the German city of Recklinghausen to pick up the body with multiple stab wounds.

Prosecutors in nearby Bochum said the suspect, who was detained at the scene, was likely to be charged with killing by request, a crime with a penalty of six months to five years in prison.

Six witnesses including the dead man's parents confirmed that he had been convinced he had advanced cancer and begged to be killed, but a police autopsy proved the victim had no tumour at all. (dpa)