In the southern city of Ulm, a spokesperson for the tribunal confirmed that a 27-year-old Eritrean, identified only as Okba B., has been found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm. The court's verdict, citing a "particular severity of guilt," suggests that the defendant is unlikely to be granted parole after 15 years, which is a common practice in Germany.
The attack took place in December 2022 when the assailant, who had been living in Germany for seven years, targeted two girls.
Ece, a 14-year-old victim, and her 13-year-old friend were walking together near his refugee shelter in the town of Illerkirchberg in southern Germany. Ece was stabbed 23 times, while her friend suffered critical Knife injuries.
The Accused in court
Investigators revealed that the attacker had intended to use the knife to intimidate the local immigration office because they denied him travel documents for his marriage in Ethiopia.
The court determined that the assailant chose the victims at random, after they saw him with the knife and feared that they would report him to the police. The prosecution stated in their indictment that the defendant "irrationally assumed that the two (children) had noticed the knife... he spontaneously decided to kill them."
During the trial, Okba B., who reportedly had a job and spoke German fluently, expressed shock and regret over the incident. He offered his condolences to the families and asked for their forgiveness.
The case caused widespread shock and revulsion throughout Germany, leading to local demonstrations. Media reports state that Ece's parents successfully appealed for the asylum seekers' shelter in the town to be demolished.
However, both girls' families pleaded with the community not to exploit the case for political purposes and instead come together to mourn Ece's tragic loss..
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