Alex W., a German of Russian descent, is facing charges over the racially motivated murder of Marwa al-Shirbini, who was fatally stabbed in July at an earlier court case.

In the first case, Alex W. was appealing a fine he had been ordered to pay after being convicted of verbally abusing al-Shirbini in 2008. He had called her a "terrorist," an "Islamist" and a "whore." The case has ignited Muslim sentiments around the world, with Arab media dubbing al-Shirbini "the veil martyr."

Alex W. is also facing charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.

'He wanted to annihilate them'

Al-Shirbini's widower, Elwi Ali Okaz, who was seriously wounded in the courtroom attack on his wife, was called to the stand on Monday to give evidence against Alex W.

Okaz said the defendant had plunged an 18-centimeter (seven-inch) kitchen knife repeatedly into his veiled wife, who was three months pregnant at the time with their second child.

Describing the events, Okaz said neither he nor his wife had any sense they were in danger, but said: "The perpetrator suddenly attacked my wife - he hit her several times and when I tried to help he hit me too. It was only then that I noticed he had a knife and that he had stabbed her … then he began stabbing me too."

Prosecutor Frank Heinrich told the court Alex W. had knowingly used the July court appearance as an opportunity to take the lives of al-Shirbini and her husband.

"He stabbed them out of pure hatred against non-Europeans and Muslims. He wanted to annihilate them," Heinrich told the court, where many people were wearing badges brandished with al-Shirbini's face.

A member of Alex W.'s legal team said the 29-year-old accused would not speak at the trial. His lawyers also demanded that the trial be postponed because of the perceived bias of the judges - a request that was turned down on Monday afternoon as the court began hearing evidence.

The defendant, wearing sunglasse and a hood, then sat with his back to the rest of the courtroom.

Courtroom security

Around 200 police, some on horseback, were stationed outside the courtroom after Internet death threats were made against the defendant, who was seated behind bullet-proof glass.

Police had said there was "an abstract danger," but had no concrete evidence an attack was planned on the defendant.

The killing of al-Shirbini has caused waves in some Arab countries, particularly in her hometown of Alexandria, Egypt.

The attack, and a slow reaction by the German media and government, sparked accusations of neglectful handling of hate crimes against Muslims.

The case triggered anti-German protests in Egypt and Iran and sparked fears of an escalation similar to the violent riots caused by the publication in Europe of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad in 2005.

The Egyptian ambassador to Germany, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, said he expected "a speedy sentence, a just sentence that is commensurate with this heinous crime," adding that he had "every confidence in the justice system in Germany."

dfm/AFP/dpa
Editor: Chuck Penfold