Honour killing story: Marita (2009)

Marita
born: 1960
stabbed: 6/7 February 2009
Residence: Schwabach / Franken
Origin: Victim: Germany; Perpetrator: Italy
Children: probably none
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend Nicola L. (age 48 at the time of the crime)

Marita and the southern Italian Nicola have been a couple since 2004. Because he is violent, she receives a restraining order in 2008. He does not want to accept this.

On the night of February 7, 2009, Nicola stabs his ex-girlfriend in her apartment. Afterwards, he calls an acquaintance and says that Marita is lying dead in her apartment. Together they go to the crime scene. The acquaintance calls the emergency doctor, Nicola goes to the pub. There he is later arrested.

In June 2010, the trial begins before the Nuremberg-Fürth court. The charges are infliction of dangerous bodily harm, attempted rape and murder. In July, Nicola is sentenced to life imprisonment.

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:

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.