Indictment in the trial: Passport was the background to the crime

A sign with the inscription "Defendant" is placed on the court bench. © Arne Dedert/dpa/Symbolbild

In the murder trial for the knife attack on two schoolgirls in Illerkirchberg, the indictment has been read. Accordingly, a passport for a marriage in Ethiopia was the motive of the accused 27-year-old refugee, as the prosecutor explained on Friday after the start of the trial at the district court of Ulm. According to the indictment, the man wanted to force the identity papers with the knife at the district office on December 5 when the two girls happened to cross his path while leaving the house.

Ulm - He assumed, therefore, that the students had seen the knife with him and therefore stabbed.

The 14-year-old student died of her injuries in hospital, her 13-year-old friend survived seriously injured. According to the public prosecutor's office, the asylum seeker from Eritrea wanted to prevent the children from notifying the police and thwarting his plan. "In fact, the girls did not notice the knife on him," the prosecutor said.

He is charged with murder and attempted murder with grievous bodily harm. The man was arrested shortly after the crime in the community in the Alb-Donau district.

The murder trial against the 27-year-old ended on Friday. There was no plea. The man will have the opportunity to comment on the allegations at the next day of the trial on June 13. A total of five days of hearings are scheduled for the trial. According to a court spokeswoman, security precautions have been increased for the proceedings. A verdict could be handed down on July 4.

The rush to the spectator seats was limited on the first day of the trial. The start of the trial was delayed due to a late interpreter. Dpa