Story By: Koen Berghuis, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

A failed Afghan asylum seeker who had an affair with a refugee centre worker is accused of slitting her sleeping Dad’s throat after the couple rowed about her speaking with other men.

The man, identified as Afghan national Najmudin J., is on trial for the murder of 85-year-old Dietrich P. at the district court of Schwerin in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Najmudin J., who had his asylum application rejected but was officially allowed to stay in the country temporarily, was living in at the victim’s house in Wittenburg at the time of the murder in November last year

Dietrich P. was reportedly paying him to carry out menial chores around the house.

According to the indictment, he slit the pensioner’s throat while he was sleeping in his bed.

Najmudin was reportedly witnessed carrying out the attack on a baby monitor camera by a Bosnian helper who was in the house at the time.

In court, Dietrich P.’s 50-year-old daughter appeared as co-plaintiff and witness to deliver her testimony. She introduced Najmudin to her father after she met him while working at a refugee centre in Zwickau in the eastern German state of Saxony.

The victim’s daughter admitted to the court that she had an affair with the Afghan asylum seeker before the alleged murder, even though she was aware that he was betrothed to another woman in his home country.

In the weeks leading up to the murder, the defendant and the victim’s daughter reportedly argued a lot because he did not want her talking to other men.

The Afghan national has not yet given a statement about his motives, but is assumed that his reasons for allegedly killing the 85-year-old man were linked to the relationship with his daughter.

The court also has to determine Najmudin’s real age. His personal documents say he was born on 1st January 1998, although the prosecutors assume he is much older than 21.

Dietrich P.’s daughter is also convinced that Najmudin is older than he says and believes he is around 27 or 28 years old.

In Germany, defendants under the age of 21 at the time of the crime should stand trial in a juvenile court.

Under juvenile law, Najmudin would face a maximum of 15 years in prison if found guilty whereas he could get life imprisonment if tried as an adult.

Local media described the victim as a beloved and well-known senior citizen who was involved in an association responsible for the preservation and restoration of a local mill.

A friend said: “Everyone here knew Dietrich, he was always friendly and ready to help anyone. It is incomprehensible that something like this could happen in our place.”

The trial is continuing.