The trial of four youths accused of murdering two young Ukrainian basketball players in Germany began on Monday, reported dpa.
The defendants, aged between 14 and 16, are being tried in a juvenile chamber at the Essen Regional Court for the acts committed in the western city of Oberhausen.
The killings took place on the evening of February 10 when the victims were on their way to Dusseldorf and encountered the defendants on a bus.
After leaving the bus at Oberhausen Central Station, the defendants allegedly beat and stabbed the victims.
According to the indictment, the defendants attacked the young Ukrainians solely because of their nationality.
One victim, aged 17, died during an emergency operation the same evening. His 18-year-old friend died of septic multi-organ failure 10 days later.
The parents of the deceased Ukrainians were present at the trial. Their lawyer, Alice Scaglione, stated that they are seeking the harshest punishment for those responsible.
Of the four defendants, two are Germans and two have Syrian nationality.
Three of the four are also accused of committing multiple crimes before the murders. Eleven more trial days are scheduled until November 21.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi