Leipzig,โค Germany -โข The trial began today in Leipzig regarding a 2023 knife attack at the Holocaust memorial, with โthe defendant, a 19-year-old โฃSyrian refugee, remaining silent. He is โฃaccused of attacking multiple people at the memorial on October 27, 2023.
The defendant arrived inโฃ Germany in 2023 as โฃan unaccompanied minor, having fled Syria via Turkey shortly after his 17th birthday. He was granted a temporary residence permit and resided in shared accommodation in Leipzig. A key question for the court is whether he will be triedโค under juvenile or adult criminal law, aโข decision that willโ significantly impact the potential sentencing. A juvenile sentence, even for a case deemed especially serious, carries a maximum of 15 years imprisonment, while conviction under adult criminal law could result in a life sentence.
The โcourt โmust now determine whether to apply juvenile or adult criminal law, given the defendant’s age at the time of the alleged crime. * (dpa)*