Honour killing story

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Mirko
Born: 1987
Attempted murder: July 20, 2008
Residence: Bernkastel-Kues / Albstadt
Origin: former Yugoslavia
Children: none
Perpetrator: the father of his girlfriend (at the time of the crime 61 years old, in Germany for 40 years)
Mirko is probably a Serb from Kosovo. Through the Internet, he meets 17-year-old Adea and is secretly together with her for two years. Adea lives with her family in Albstadt near Stuttgart. The two talk about marriage. But Adea's Albanian family is against it. So Mirko brings his girlfriend to his family in Kues on the Mosel.

Adea's family reports her missing, and so the young couple must go to the police. While they are standing outside the police station, 5 of Adea's relatives drive up. They try to drag her into the car. Her father stabs Mirko several times and threatens to kill him. One stab just misses his kidney.

A warrant is issued for the arrest of the young woman's father for attempted manslaughter. He is a locksmith and has 3 (or 5) other adult children besides Adea.

In the courtroom, it becomes clear that those involved in the crime don't have much regard for German laws. Not only was the crime committed right in front of a police station. Both perpetrator and victim testify that the case was "normal." Among other things, a lawyer suggests by fax that the victim wants to drop his case if the father agrees to the marriage.

In February 2009, the 61-year-old is sentenced by the Trier District Court to a prison term of 4 years and 3 months. The judge sees the motive in blood vengeance. The young woman will probably have to go into hiding. The real names of those involved are not known.

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.

Posted in Attempted murder, Investigation and tagged , , , .