Trial Begins for Asylum Seeker Accused of Killing Refugee Shelter Operator in Sarstedt

A 35-year-old Iraqi man faces charges of manslaughter after allegedly fatally stabbing the 61-year-old operator of a refugee shelter near Hanover in September 2024.

• The defendant, an Iraqi asylum seeker, is accused of stabbing Ahmad A., the operator of a refugee shelter in Sarstedt, with a kitchen knife during a dispute on September 2, 2024.
• The victim, a 61-year-old German citizen of Afghan origin, was a socially engaged businessman whose death drew significant public attention, with nearly 1,000 people attending his funeral.
• Prosecutors allege the attack occurred after ongoing tensions between the defendant and other residents of the shelter; video evidence and witness testimony are key to the case.
• The defendant, who had been denied asylum and was slated for deportation, was living in the shelter under a temporary stay and has no prior criminal record.
• The trial includes 11 scheduled hearings with 37 witnesses, and the court expects to deliver a verdict by late April 2025.

6 Articles

Stern Stern Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung Stern Stern Stern