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German on trial for Muslim murder German on trial for Muslim murder
(about 7 hours later)
The trial of a man accused of stabbing a pregnant Egyptian woman to death inside a German courtroom has begun in the city of Dresden. The husband of a pregnant Egyptian woman killed in a German courtroom has described how her alleged attacker stabbed her to death in front of him.
The defendant, 29-year-old Alex W, had earlier been fined for calling Marwa Sherbini "a terrorist" and "Islamist". He testified as the trial of Alex W, a 29-year-old Russian-born German, opened in Dresden, in the same courtroom where Marwa Sherbini was killed in July.
He is alleged to have smuggled a kitchen knife into an appeal hearing where Ms Sherbini was killed. The defendant had been there to appeal against a fine for calling Ms Sherbini a "terrorist" and an "Islamist".
The attack in July sparked outrage in the Muslim world, with protests in Egypt, Iran and Turkey. Husband Elwy Ali Okaz said he had tried to shield his wife as the attack began.
The defendant is accused of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm. Her alleged attacker had "continued to stab her when she was already lying on the floor", Mr Okaz said.
He was fined 50 euros ($75; £46) by the judge, Birgit Wiegand, for refusing to remove his sunglasses although he conceded to lower his hood.
Tight security
He faced another fine after refusing to confirm his name and place of birth, the AFP news agency reported.
The trial is taking place in the same courtroom as the stabbing and security is tight.
Two hundred police are securing the courthouse and bullet-proof glass has been installed in the courtroom.
Elwy Ali Okaz tried to protect his pregnant wife from her attackerElwy Ali Okaz tried to protect his pregnant wife from her attacker
Anyone attending the hearing has to undergo strict security screenings similar to that in airports. Mr Okaz, who identified Alex W to the court as the killer, was himself stabbed as he tried to protect his wife and also accidentally shot in the leg by a security guard who initially believed him to be the attacker.
The defendant has been the subject of internet death threats. He arrived at court on crutches, wearing a badge showing his wife's face.
Ms Wiegand told the court that the trial would try to get "to the bottom of the circumstances" surrounding Ms Sherbini's death. The attack caused outrage in the Muslim world, with many Muslim leaders accusing Germany of Islamophobia following the killing.
The case began with an argument in a playground in 2008. They said the country, which has the second-biggest Muslim population in Western Europe, had been too slow to condemn it.
Ms Sherbini, a pharmacist, is said to have asked the defendant to let her child use a playground swing he was sitting on. Protection
He allegedly refused and instead called her abusive names. BBC Berlin correspondent Steve Rosenberg says 200 police officers were deployed at the Dresden courthouse as the trial opened, to protect the defendant.
Ms Sherbini took the defendant to court and he was fined 780 euros ($1,170; £718) for defamation. Alex W, who is charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm, has been the subject of death threats.
'Hatred' Anyone attending the hearing had to pass through airport-style scanners, and a bullet-proof glass screen was installed in the dock, our correspondent says.
But when he returned to court for the appeal on 1 July this year, prosecutors say he smuggled a seven-inch (18cm) kitchen knife into the courtroom and stabbed Ms Sherbini at least 16 times with it. Photographers crowded round as the alleged attacker was led into the courtroom in handcuffs - his face covered by a hood, a hat, sunglasses and a scarf, our correspondent adds.
The 31-year-old, who was three-months pregnant with her second child, bled to death. He was then fined 50 euros ($75; £46) by the judge, Birgit Wiegand, for refusing to remove his sunglasses, although he did uncover the rest of his head.
Ms Sherbini's three-year-old son was with the family in court when she was killed. Judge Wiegand told the court that the trial would try to get "to the bottom of the circumstances" surrounding Ms Sherbini's death.
Her husband Elwy Ali Okaz was stabbed as he tried to protect his wife.
He was also accidentally shot in the leg by German police who initially believed him to be the attacker.
A public funeral was held for the pharmacist in Dresden in July
He arrived at court on crutches wearing a badge showing his wife's face.
Prosecutors say the defendant - an unemployed Russian-born German national - was motivated by a "hatred of non-Europeans and Muslims".Prosecutors say the defendant - an unemployed Russian-born German national - was motivated by a "hatred of non-Europeans and Muslims".
He reportedly suffers from depression. However, court-appointed psychiatric experts said they had not found any evidence of diminished responsibility, the AFP news agency reported. He reportedly suffers from depression. However, court-appointed psychiatric experts said they had not found any evidence of diminished responsibility.
Newspapers in Egypt and other Islamic countries have expressed outrage at the case, asking how the fatal attack could have happened. Ms Sherbini, who wore a headscarf, has been dubbed "the martyr of the Hijab". 'Hatred'
Muslim leaders accused Germany of Islamophobia and German officials of being far too slow to react to the killing. The case began with an argument in a playground in 2008.
The Egyptian government has hired lawyers for Ms Sherbini's family and has called for a life sentence if the defendant is convicted - the maximum penalty possible. Ms Sherbini, a pharmacist, is said to have asked the defendant to let her child use a playground swing he was sitting on. He allegedly refused and instead called her abusive names.
Egyptians want the maximum possible sentence for the alleged killer
She later took the defendant to court and he was fined 780 euros ($1,170; £718) for defamation.
But when he returned to the courtroom for the appeal on 1 July this year, prosecutors say he smuggled in an 18cm (7in) kitchen knife and stabbed Ms Sherbini at least 16 times with it.
The 31-year-old, who was three-months pregnant with her second child, bled to death in full view of her husband and their three-year-old son.
The trial is expected to conclude by 11 November.
Axel Koehler, president of the German Central Council of Muslims, said his community expected a "strong conviction".Axel Koehler, president of the German Central Council of Muslims, said his community expected a "strong conviction".
"We are looking at this trial with great anticipation because our women and girls are obviously scared", he said. "We're following the trial with great interest, in particular because our women and girls are afraid and already feel discriminated against," he said.
Ms Sherbini, who wore a headscarf, was dubbed "the martyr of the Hijab". Thousands attended her funeral in Egypt, some chanting "Death to Germany", and there were also mass protests in Iran.
Egypt's ambassador to Germany, Ramzi Izz al-Din Ramzi, who was at the opening of the trial, called for a "speedy sentence, a just sentence commensurate with this heinous crime".