- 18 year olds on trial for murder
Trial Begins at Magdeburg Regional Court Against 18-Year-Old Accused of Killing Mother and Younger Brother, Injuring Three Siblings
The trial against an 18-year-old has commenced at the Regional Court of Magdeburg, accused of murdering his mother and a younger brother in March. The youth is also alleged to have injured three other siblings, some critically, according to the prosecution. The young man faces charges of double homicide and attempted murder in three cases.
At the start of the trial, the public was excluded. The presiding judge explained this decision by citing the need to protect the privacy of the surviving siblings, who are involved in the trial as co-plaintiffs. One of the sisters is only 13 years old.
The trial is scheduled for eight days in total, with the final hearing set for September 27. If convicted under adult criminal law, the 18-year-old could face a life sentence, according to a court spokesperson. If sentenced as a juvenile, the term could be up to ten years.
Born in Azerbaijan and holding Russian citizenship, the 18-year-old lived with his family in a small apartment in Magdeburg. The prosecution alleges that a growing feeling of lacking privacy in the apartment led to the crime. The 18-year-old is accused of stabbing his siblings, some of whom were asleep, and his 42-year-old mother multiple times.
The surviving siblings expressed their gratitude to the judge for prioritizing their privacy during the trial. Despite the trauma, the 13-year-old sister spoke bravely about the impact of her mother's loss on the family.
