A 24-year-old Syrian man, Hamza A., has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 17-year-old Malak in Menden, Germany.
The Arnsberg regional court found that Hamza A. doused the victim with gasoline and set her ablaze at her family’s front door in a premeditated attack aimed at inflicting maximum suffering on his ex-fiancée and her family.
As reported by Nius, the heinous act took place on March 22, 2023, when Malak, the sister of Hamza A.’s fiancée, answered the door to her family home at 10:05 p.m. Hamza A. immediately poured gasoline on her and ignited it, engulfing her body in flames within moments.
Despite medical efforts, Malak succumbed to her injuries 17 days later, after enduring excruciating pain.
The court revealed that Hamza A. sought to exact revenge on his former fiancée, whom he had violently abused before their separation in October 2023. Following the breakup, he issued repeated threats, leaving her in a state of constant fear. His plan targeted her innocent sister as a means to cause her the “greatest possible psychological damage.”
On the day of the attack, Hamza A. arrived at the family’s home with a bag containing gasoline canisters. He rang the doorbell with the intent to kill whoever answered. In addition to the murder charge, the court convicted him of grievous bodily harm and aggravated arson, as the accelerant endangered other residents in the building.
The presiding judge, Petja Pagel, emphasized the “particular gravity of the guilt,” meaning Hamza A. will not be eligible for parole after 15 years, a typical provision in life sentences under German law.
The court deemed his actions to be premeditated and extraordinarily cruel, ensuring he faces the maximum legal consequences.
Hamza A.’s defense attorney announced plans to appeal the verdict, but the decision has been met with widespread condemnation of the crime and relief that justice has been served for Malak and her grieving family.
Soft. He should be executed, and the method he used to commit murder might be considered.