Honour killing story

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Joanna S.
born 1988
stabbed: December 29/30, 2010
Residence: Hanover
Origin: victim: "Asian background"; perpetrator: Brazil
Children: probably none
Perpetrator: her boyfriend Miguel W. (age 27 at the time of the crime)
It is ultimately a matter of discretion whether one sees an honor motive in this crime. It could also be an act of jealousy. However, that would raise the question of why the perpetrator killed not his rival - but his girlfriend.

The facts: Miguel is from Brazil, has a German passport, studies journalism and is known to the police for violent crimes against women. He has been dating Joanna, a landscape architecture student, for a few months. She has an Asian background. Perhaps a Filipino background can be suspected.

On December 29, 2010, the two go out together. They argue, the argument continues until early morning at Joanna's house. Then Miguel stabs his girlfriend 3 times in the neck with a kitchen knife. After she is dead, he inflicts more injuries on her.

Miguel drives home to Mellendorf in the Wedemark. He sends a text message to a relative to tell him about the murder (a common detail in honor killings). He informs the police, who break into Joanna's apartment and find the body and the murder weapon. About 6 hours after the crime, Miguel is arrested.

In March 2011, the trial begins at the Hanover District Court. The verdict cannot be found.

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

Questions about honour killings

  • refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.

  • wants to end the relationship.

  • was the victim of rape or sexual assault.

  • was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.

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