Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

An imam was allegedly beaten to death with a hammer by his brother after the pair ended up in a love triangle with a German woman sweet maker who had converted to Islam to marry the religious leader.

The 26-year-old imam, identified only as Shahid M., was allegedly killed by his brother Ali Danish M., 25, after the younger man had an affair with his brother’s wife, identified as confectioner Stephanie M., 31, in the town of Ebersbach an der Fils in the Goppingen district of Germany.

Police investigating the killing have reportedly found evidence that the woman and her lover plotted together to kill her husband so that they could be together.

Pakistani native and leader of the mosque in the city of Stuttgart, Shahid M., and sweet maker Stephanie, met in 2016 and soon after married according to Islamic laws.

The supposedly devoted 31-year-old wife fully converted to Islam by wearing a hijab and taking the name Aleena which means “the tender one” in Arabic.

The couple even had two children aged one and four, whilst Shahid M. also had an older son from his previous relationship.

According to the city of Ulm’s Public Prosecutor, the pair were walking on a gravel path by the Flis River when they were attacked by two masked men at 6pm on Monday, 21st December 2020.

While the 26-year-old chaplain was murdered at the crime scene, Stephanie M. suffered minor injuries and was treated in the hospital.

An autopsy ordered by a special commission formed by the criminal police showed that the victim died as a result of a severe head injury, possibly obtained by a hard object.

Shortly after cops discovered a 60-centimetre-long sledgehammer at the bottom of the Flis River, which they discovered had been bought for EUR 20 (GBP 17) by the imam’s brother Ali Danish M., 25, in a hardware store in the area two weeks earlier.

In addition traces of blood were also detected on Ali Danish M.’s shoes, whilst his and Stephanie M.’s internet history revealed the two had been trying to look for a “deadly poison” for a long time.

They were arrested three days after Christmas eve.

Chief Public Prosecutor Michael Bischofberger said: “The two accused planned to kill their victim in order to be able to continue their hidden relationship undisturbed.”

Ijaz A., 46, uncle of the victim and the alleged attacker said: “In the beginning, I believed in their [Ali Danish M. and Stephanie M.] innocence. But when our lawyer reported about the hammer purchase and the traces of blood on Ali Danish’s shoes I began to have huge doubts.”

Their family lawyer Khubaib Ali Mohammed said: “The brothers’ father still cannot believe that his son killed his other son.”

According to the public prosecutor, the children currently live with their maternal grandmother.

There are no reports whether Stephanie M. and Ali Danish. have made any statements regarding the incident.

The trial in which the murderous duo faces life imprisonment is scheduled to begin in June.

Police not yet commented on the reports that there was a second man, and if so who this might be.