Knife attack on ex-partner in Berlin: 51-year-old faces court on attempted murder charge
A 51-year-old Serb is on trial at Berlin Regional Court for allegedly brutally attacking his 46-year-old former live-in partner. According to the prosecution, he was motivated by injured "family honour".
Berlin Regional Court: ex-partner charged with attempted murder following knife attack
As reported by Google News DE — Crime (de), a 51-year-old Serbian national has been on trial at Berlin Regional Court since this week, charged with attempted murder of his 46-year-old former live-in partner. The attack occurred on 2 February of this year in the woman's flat in Berlin-Weißensee.
The defendant was arrested shortly after the incident and has been in custody awaiting trial since then. His lawyer stated that the man would comment on the allegations at one of the next hearing dates.
Course of events according to the prosecution
The woman had returned to her flat after a stay of nearly two months outside Berlin. In addition to her daughter, her daughter-in-law and her grandson, her former partner was also present. According to the prosecution, he suspected that she had a new boyfriend.
The 51-year-old is said to have stabbed the woman in the back with a kitchen knife, struck her in the shoulders and attempted to stab her in the throat. Because the woman resisted vigorously, she prevented this stab — however, the knife slashed her cheek and injured her tongue. She eventually managed to seize the weapon and throw it away. The man then allegedly struck her with objects within his reach until a neighbour intervened and ended the attack.
Witness testifies in tears
The 46-year-old testified in court that she had met the defendant roughly 30 years ago and separated from him ten years ago. After that, he only appeared to visit their shared son. "I then left my own flat and only came back when he had gone," explained the mother of three. "I was afraid of him my whole life."
Murder charge based on base motives
The prosecution is proceeding on the basis of the murder charge element of base motives. The defendant acted with intent to kill in order to restore his alleged "family honour" and to prevent the woman from having another partner, according to the prosecution. According to the charge sheet, following the separation and suspicion of a new man in the woman's life, he felt his "family honour" had been wounded.
Six further hearing dates for the trial have been scheduled up to 5 October.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)