Trial begins for 20-year-old accused of axe attack on parking lot

A trial commenced at the Hamburg Regional Court concerning an alleged axe attack on a parking lot, which prosecutors are treating as attempted manslaughter. The 20-year-old defendant is accused of assaulting another man on January 2 in the Wandsbek district.

According to the prosecution's account, the defendant sent the victim three hours of WhatsApp death threats before lying in wait for him later that afternoon. When the victim appeared in the parking lot, the defendant reportedly approached him, drawing an axe from beneath his jacket. He is alleged to have swung the axe towards the victim's head.

However, the intended victim was able to dodge the strike. With the assistance of two witnesses, he managed to bring the attacker to the ground and disarm him. The court has scheduled seven additional hearing dates through October 9.

The trial is being held before a youth court chamber. This is because, should the defendant be found guilty, he could be sentenced under juvenile criminal law as a young adult.