Okba B, an Eritrean asylum seeker, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court for the brutal stabbing of two teenage girls.
Sadly, one of the teenage girls who was stabbed by the 27-year-old man in Illerkirchberg town lost her life in December of last year.
Ece, the 14-year-old victim, tragically lost her life due to the 23 stab wounds she suffered in the incident. Her 13-year-old friend sustained critical injuries and is currently in a precarious condition.
Prosecutors, as reported, disclosed that the assailant attacked the two girls after they noticed the knife he had intended to use at a local immigration office.
The assailant’s motive for the attack, as stated by prosecutors, was his dissatisfaction with officials’ failure to issue him a passport, a crucial document for his planned marriage in Ethiopia.
The court’s decision categorized the crime as ‘particularly severe,’ indicating that the perpetrator is highly unlikely to be released early, even after completing a 15-year prison sentence.
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Joining the stream of asylum seekers in 2015, the Eritrean arrived in Germany, compelled by the dire circumstances of war and persecution from which they sought respite.
The Ulm court’s findings indicate that until last November, the individual had achieved a commendable level of integration into German society, including stable employment, proficiency in the German language, and a serene temperament.
Okba B, in a contrite manner, voiced his regret before the court and humbly asked for forgiveness from the families impacted by his actions.
While the verdict can still be challenged through an appeal, prosecutors have stated that if it stands, there is a potential for the individual to be deported while serving their prison term.
The case has provoked strong outrage in Germany, yet the families of the girls involved have emphasised their desire to prevent political exploitation by anti-immigration groups. Notably, the girl who lost her life belonged to a German-Turkish family.