Trial begins in Germany for suspects in murder of Ukrainian teens in Oberhausen

This was reported by DW.

On Monday, August 12, the court heard the case involving teenagers aged 14, 15, and 16, who are charged with the murder of Ukrainian athletes, allegedly motivated by xenophobic sentiments. Two of the suspects are German citizens, while the other two are from Syria.

The victims' parents attended the trial, and according to their lawyer, Alice Scaglione, they are seeking the harshest possible punishment. Eleven court sessions are scheduled, running until November 21.

The trial commenced six months after the murder of the Ukrainians.

Details of the murder

On the evening of Saturday, February 10, 2024, an unidentified individual attacked two Ukrainian teens with a knife in Germany. The incident took place at a bus stop on Willy Brandt Square in Oberhausen, following a heated argument between two groups of youths.

The argument, which began on the bus, escalated into a physical altercation after the groups disembarked.

Seventeen-year-old Volodymyr Yermakov succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The death of the second Ukrainian basketball player, Artem Kozachenko, was confirmed on February 20.