The prosecution said that the motive of the crime for the defendants was the “Ukrainian origin” of the victims.
The trial began in Germany against the suspects in the murder of two Ukrainian basketball players, youth team players Vladimir Ermakov and Artem Kozachenko. This was reported by the German tabloid Bild.
The trial began on Monday, with the suspects appearing at the Essen regional court. The court hearing is being held behind closed doors, as the main accused Mert V. (German Turk) and his three accomplices (two Syrians, one German Greek) were 14 and 15 years old at the time of the crime.
Mert V. and his henchmen have long been on the radar of law enforcement for various offenses. Shortly before the crime, Mert V. (now 16 years old) had already been convicted of previous crimes, but the sentence of arrest had not yet entered into legal force.
Authorities also tried to enroll 14- and 15-year-old offenders in a youth offender prevention program in 2023, but this also failed due to refusal by them and their guardians.
The main defendants face up to 10 years in prison. Four other children (12-13 years old), who were also involved in the double murder, were brought before the youth affairs department.
According to the indictment, the motive was the “Ukrainian origin” of the victims.
The parents of the murdered men were known to be present at the trial.
As we have already written, in Frankfurt, Germany, a 19-year-old Afghan man attacked a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman.
Source: korrespondent
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