Husband of murdered Egyptian gives evidence in German court

[WillieW]

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/291832,2ndlead-husband-of-murdered-egyptian-gives-evidence-in-german-court.html

Dresden,Germany - A Dresden court began to hear evidence on Monday in the trial over the murder of pregnant Egyptian woman Marwa al-Shirbini, who was stabbed to death in July at a hearing in the same building. Alex W, a German of Russian origin, is accused of the racially motivated murder, which took place at an appeal against a fine he had been ordered to pay for verbally abusing al-Shirbini in 2008.

The killing provoked angry reactions in Egypt and a death threat against the defendant.

Al-Shirbini's widower, Elwi Ali Okaz, gave his testimony to the court on the first afternoon of the trial. Okaz was also stabbed and critically wounded in the attack, which left him reliant on crutches.

One of Alex W.'s defence lawyers said the 29-year-old accused would not speak at the trial. The defendant sat with his back to the court, his head covered with a hood and sunglasses.

Earlier in the day, a separate panel of judges dismissed a defence appeal that a fair trial could not take place in the same building where the attack had occurred.

The unemployed Alex W has been charged with murder, attempted murder and causing aggravated bodily harm. He faces life imprisonment if convicted.

The senior public prosecutor, Frank Heinrich, told the court that Alex W had murdered al-Shirbini out of perfidious motives and had also attempted to kill her husband.

"(Alex W.) knowingly exploited the circumstances to extinguish the lives of the couple out of pure hatred towards non-Europeans and Muslims, whom he doesn't grant the right to live," Heinrich said.

Egypt's ambassador to Germany, Ramzy Ezzeldin, came to witness proceedings, and said he expected a fair trial.

"I have great trust in German justice," the diplomat said just before the court case got underway.

Al-Shirbini and her husband had lived in Dresden for several years. Okaz had been writing a doctorate in molecular cell biology and genetics at the Max Planck Institute, and his wife worked at a pharmacy.

The trial is expected to last 11 days.