Revenge Killings in Berlin: Two Young Men Convicted for Brutal Murder
Trials for Acts of Retaliatory Homicide: Conviction of Two Youths Accused - "Murder Trial Verdict": Two youths found guilty of homicide
Whip up a stiff drink, folks. A year ago, an 18-year-old was senselessly taken in Berlin-Spandau, and now, two young Turkish men have received their verdict: guilty of joint murder and robbery causing death. The eldest, age 22, received a life sentence, while the kid, aged 18, will spend nine years and three months in a youth detention center. But why the bloodshed? Judge Nikolai Zacharias said it best: "this was all about bloody revenge."
These two cousins, led astray by their warped families, waited in ambush for the 18-year-old back in May 6, 2022, in Falkenhagener Feld. The elder cousin, reportedly holding a gun, fired four shots - back, chest, and groin. The kid then stabbed the already dying lad multiple times with a knife.
The victim sought refuge in Berlin, fleeing from his own homeland due to a bloody turf war in Turkey. His brother was accused of murdering a cousin of the defendants. This brother had already been threatened with "bloody revenge" in Turkey, and the lure of safety brought him to Berlin.
The crime was cold-blooded and poorly motivated in the eyes of Judge Zacharias, who stated, "the victim was murdered because he was related to someone." The verdict considered statements from the defendants about the crime and their expressed remorse.
In court, it was revealed that the duo had been plotting this hit for weeks, meticulously carrying it out with foresight. Prosecutor Katharina Ostendorf demanded a life sentence for the 22-year-old, citing exceptional severity of guilt, and nine years and eleven months for the younger one.
Lawyers for the defendants argued that family pressure was the key instigator in the murder. The families of these young men were said to be intolerant of dissent, goading these lads into performing this heinous act in Berlin.
Following the crime, the two scuttled off to Switzerland. Their arrests took place at the end of May, and they were eventually extradited to Germany. The final verdict is still pending.
It's not an uncommon scenario in today's world: transnational tussles causing harm thousands of miles away. Cases can involve retaliation for a perceived slight to family honor (known as "honor-based violence")[^1] or generational disputes that escalate into bloodshed when grievances persist unresolved[^2]. Investigations can become shrouded in complexity when they traverse borders[^2]. Keep your eyes peeled, folks, because troubled families and ancient feuds can be deadly.
[^1]: Some articles discuss the role of honor-based violence in migrant communities: Honor Violence in Turkey and Honor and Shame in Arab Society.[^2]: The KGB File Preservation in Dresden provides an example of how bureaucratic red-tape can intensify cross-border investigations.
- The verdict in the Berlin-Spandau murder case found two Turkish cousins guilty of joint murder and robbery causing death, with the eldest receiving a life sentence and the youngest nine years and three months in a youth detention center.
- Judge Nikolai Zacharias stated that the motive for the murder was "bloody revenge," a term that emphasizes the retaliatory nature of the crime.
- The victim of the cold-blooded murder had fled his homeland in Turkey due to a turf war, but his death was a result of a feud between his family and the defendants' family.
- The lawyers for the defendants argued that family pressure, including intolerance of dissent, played a significant role in instigating the heinous act committed in Berlin.
