Trial of German man accused of killing pregnant Egyptian woman begins

October 26, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: News

“Alex W”, A German man has begun his high profile trial, accused of the killing of a pregnant Egyptian woman, Marwa al-Sherbini, in a case that has enraged many in the Muslim world. Alex W faces charges of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

The attack and killing of the pregnant Egyptian woman happened inside a courtroom when Alex W was in court contesting a fine over charges that he verbally assaulted her. Astonishingly, the murder trial is in the same courtroom where Marwa Sherbini was killed.

The 28-year old German national of Russian extraction, is accused of stabbing the veiled Marwa al-Sherbini during a frenzied attack that prosecutors argue was motivated by “pure hatred of non-Europeans and Muslims”.

After online death threats were made against her attacker, German authorities deployed about 200 police and marksmen to guard the trial on Monday, which is taking place only metres from where Ms Sherbini bled to death.

The accused appeared wearing a hood and sunglasses and sat behind bullet-proof glass. He was then fined 50 euros (£46) by the judge, Birgit Wiegand, for refusing to remove his sunglasses, although he did uncover the rest of his head.

The murder on July 1 unleashed a wave of anti-German protests in Egypt, Iran and Turkey and sparked accusations that Germany tolerated Islamophobia.

German authorities and media were said to have responded too slowly to the killing and there are concerns the trial could spark fresh protests.

The Egyptian government is monitoring the case and is seeking life-imprisonment for the accused. Several Egyptian reporters also attended court on Monday.

Alex W appeared in court on July 1 to contest a fine for verbally abusing Ms al-Sherbini, 31, in a playground in 2008.

The Egyptian woman, who worked as a pharmacist, had asked the accused to stop sitting on a swing so her three-year old son could play on it.

Alex W is alleged to have called her a “terrorist”, an “Islamist” and a “whore”. Ms Sherbini was wearing a headscarf at the time.

Witnesses say the accused, who moved to Germany in 2003, set upon Ms Sherbini after she had given evidence, stabbing her 16 times with a kitchen knife and wounding her husband, Elwi Ali Okaz, as he tried to help her. Ms Sherbini, who was three-months pregnant with her second child, bled to death in full view of her husband and their three-year-old son.

Believing Mr Okaz was the assailant, police shot him in the leg, before realising their mistake and apprehending the real killer.

The trial is expected to conclude by 11 November.