Asylum-seeker stands trial for grisly murder

A German court on Monday opened a trial against a 20-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker for murdering an 85-year-old sleeping pensioner last year in the small town of Wittenburg.

Details of the case:

• The asylum-seeker is accused of slitting the pensioner's throat.
• The Afghan worked as a helper for the 85-year-old man.
• The pensioner's daughter, who works at a refugee integration center, is a key witness. She helped the defendant get the job.
• Prosecutors have ruled out a political or religious motive.

Read more: German states look to reintegration to reduce migrant crime

Spotlight on similar cases

Serious crimes that involve people who were among the almost 1 million migrants who came to Germany in the second half of 2015 regularly attract media attention.

Last year, riots were triggered in the eastern city of Chemnitz after a German-Cuban man was killed by alleged asylum-seekers. In the southwestern town of Kandel, the murder of a 15-year-old girl by an Afghan asylum-seeker also triggered months of anti-migrant protests.

Read more: Study: Only better integration will reduce migrant crime rate

How long will the trial take?

The trial is expected to last seven days with a verdict due in May.

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ls/msh (AFP, dpa)