Berlin - The right-wing immigrant man who knifed to death 30-year-old pregnant Egyptian pharmacist Marwa al-Shirbini may have planned the courtroom killing in Dresden, Germany, a news report said Saturday. Alexander W, aged 28, is likely to go on trial in the same courtroom in October with security at maximum. The news magazine Der Spiegel said police were conducting vetting interviews in advance with everyone to be present.
W has been indicted for the July 1 murder of al-Shirbini, 31. The so-called headscarf murder triggered rage in the Muslim world.
Spiegel reported W was said to have telephoned his mother just before the attack, said, "I love you, Mum," and hung up. Prosecutors are to argue that this shows the bloodbath was not a spur-of-the-moment loss of control.
Prosecutors have now documented W's early life and schooling in Perm, Russia, and evidence that he was refused entry to the Russian armed forces on health grounds. He and his family immigrated to Germany in 2003 on grounds of German ancestry.
The unemployed man's legal troubles with Shirbini, who wore a scarf, began August 21, 2008 when he refused to stop sitting on a child's swing so her son could use it. He called her a "terrorist." Bystanders called the police.
W appealed an instant fine of 330 euros. The judge doubled it. W appealed again. Prosecutors said he should be jailed because of his lack of remorse. The judge ordered a verbatim record of W's racist remarks in the courtroom.
He called Muslims "monsters" and demanded they all be expelled from Germany. He told the judge he had voted for Germany's most right-wing party.
He stabbed Shirbini before a verdict could be pronounced. Her husband, Elwi Okaz, was wounded as he tried to save her.
Spiegel said W had remained abusive in remand custody, telling fellow prisoners on two occasions he would stab them if he could.
