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German courtroom killer gets life | German courtroom killer gets life |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering a pregnant Egyptian woman in a German courtroom. | A man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering a pregnant Egyptian woman in a German courtroom. |
The Dresden state court also ruled that Alexander Wiens would not be eligible for early release. | The Dresden state court also ruled that Alexander Wiens would not be eligible for early release. |
Wiens, 28, admitted stabbing Marwa Sherbini to death at a court hearing involving them both in July. | |
The crime sparked outrage across the Muslim world. Egypt said justice had been served with the sentence. | |
Wiens, a Russian-born German citizen, had argued his action was not premeditated. | |
But prosecutors at the trial, which took place amid tight security, insisted he was motivated by a "hatred of non-Europeans and Muslims". | |
'Martyr of the hijab' | 'Martyr of the hijab' |
The case began with an argument in a playground in 2008. | The case began with an argument in a playground in 2008. |
Ms Sherbini, a pharmacist, is said to have asked Wiens to let her child use a playground swing he was sitting on. He refused and instead called her abusive names. | Ms Sherbini, a pharmacist, is said to have asked Wiens to let her child use a playground swing he was sitting on. He refused and instead called her abusive names. |
The verdict, the maximum punishment under German law, serves justice and is considered a warning to those motivated by hate Hossam Zaki,Egyptian foreign ministry | |
She later took the defendant to court and he was fined 780 euros ($1,170; £718) for defamation. | She later took the defendant to court and he was fined 780 euros ($1,170; £718) for defamation. |
But when Wiens returned to the courtroom for an appeal hearing 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. | But when Wiens returned to the courtroom for an appeal hearing 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 front of her husband and their three-year-old son. | The 31-year-old, who was three months pregnant with her second child, bled to death in front of her husband and their three-year-old son. |
Her husband 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. | Her husband 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. |
Wiens was also found guilty of attempted murder and causing bodily harm for his attack on the dead woman's husband. | Wiens was also found guilty of attempted murder and causing bodily harm for his attack on the dead woman's husband. |
Wiens hid his face under a hood and sunglasses during the trial | |
Egyptian Ambassador Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy told reporters outside court that "justice has been honoured". | |
He said: "Getting the maximum possible sentence, I think that itself says a lot." | |
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency: "The verdict, the maximum punishment under German law, serves justice and is considered a warning to those motivated by hate." | |
Many Muslim leaders had accused Germany of Islamophobia following the killing. | |
They said the country, which has the second-biggest Muslim population in Western Europe, had been too slow to condemn it. | They said the country, which has the second-biggest Muslim population in Western Europe, had been too slow to condemn it. |
Ms Sherbini, who wore a headscarf, was dubbed "the martyr of the hijab". | 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. | Thousands attended her funeral in Egypt, some chanting "Death to Germany", and there were also mass protests in Iran. |
On Wednesday, outside the courtroom, about 200 people staged a demonstration calling for the German government to do more to counter racism, particularly on the internet. | On Wednesday, outside the courtroom, about 200 people staged a demonstration calling for the German government to do more to counter racism, particularly on the internet. |