Uncle Accused in Hanau Court: Nephews Testify in Homicide Trial - Investigation underway at Hanau court as kids accuse uncle of homicide
A 69-year-old Afghan man is currently on trial in the Hanau Regional Court, Hesse, Germany, for a murder allegedly committed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2015. The accused, who arrived in Germany as a refugee, is facing charges of shooting his brother in the latter's home.
The prosecution views the murder as premeditated and driven by low motives, with the motive believed to be a dispute over an inheritance of a piece of land. The alleged eyewitness to the murder is the victim's then 11-year-old son, who, along with the children of the deceased, are co-plaintiffs and expected to testify as witnesses.
The accused denies the charges against him, claiming he was not present in Kandahar at the time of the alleged crime and was instead in Pakistan. He also stated that the dispute over the land was with other family members, not his brother. The accused further claimed that he was once kidnapped by his brother and two other men.
The trial is considered a case of "substitute criminal justice" due to diplomatic relations between Germany and Afghanistan. This means that the German court is examining the case despite the crime taking place outside of Germany, as it involves a suspect who is now a resident of Germany.
The prosecution accuses the man of shooting his brother in his home on October 26, 2015. The accused's brother was reportedly addicted to drugs and involved in drug trafficking, which may have contributed to the dispute.
All three arrived in Germany as refugees at different times. The son and daughter of the deceased, who are now living in Germany, reported the accused to the court last year. The trial is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the murder and provide closure for the victim's family.
- The 'Community policy' on refugee cases in Germany should provide clear guidelines for handling cases like the current trial in Hanau, where the accused, a refugee, is being tried for a murder allegedly committed in Afghanistan.
- This trial, involving a 'politics' case of 'crime-and-justice', is not only a matter of 'general-news' within Germany but also an international issue, as it demonstrates the complexities of 'substitute criminal justice' systems in cross-border cases.
