IT is fitting that on the popular website Facebook brutal killer David Heiss lists Faust as one of his favourite books.

Anthony Bond

IT is fitting that on the popular website Facebook brutal killer David Heiss lists Faust as one of his favourite books.

Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend who makes a pact with the Devil in exchange for knowledge.

An interpretation of the name Faust - and its adjective Faustian - is perhaps fitting for Heiss.

It is often used to describe a person whose headstrong desire for self-fulfilment leads him or her in a diabolical direction.

Prior to his arrest in September last year, Heiss lived with his grandmother and auntie in the middle of a quiet unassuming street in Dauborn, close to Frankfurt and Cologne.

Following his arrest, Heiss' mother Betty, a hospital worker who lives in the nearby town of Limburg - spoke of her suffering.

“I love him very much, like before this happened,” before she added “Somehow I hope this is just a dream and my son never did this.”

Prior to his arrest, Heiss had been working in an office-based computer job in Frankfurt about 70 kilometres from his home.

Friends of the 21-year-old spoke at the time of their shock at Heiss' arrest.

Ina Bar, a former class mate at the Tilemannschuleschool in Limburg, described him as “a nice guy” but said Heiss had always been an outsider during his school years.

She said: “I am really scared hearing this stuff about David. I was in class with him for three years. I am shocked because David was a nice guy. I can't believe what happened.”

Heiss' Facebook page also provides a fascinating insight into the killer's life. He puts his relationship status as “single” and he describes his political views as “liberal”.

He lists his activities as videogaming, football, internet and chess while his favourite music includes Foo Fighters, Metallica and Queen.

His favourite movies include the bloody Pulp Fiction and Star Wars while another favourite book includes The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.