A wedding is supposed to be one of the best days of your life. However, as with so many other family celebrations, tensions and arguments can arise. In December 2021, however, it escalated completely at a wedding in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. A guest broke with “traditions” and was attacked with a knife.
The 22-year-old Gladbeck man, Muhammed (name altered by the ed.), now had to answer for attempted manslaughter and dangerous bodily harm before the Essen Regional Court. The reason was what happened at a wedding in Bottrop in December last year. At the celebration with about 300 guests, the 28-year-old Mustafa (name altered by the editor) refused to dance with the groom, as tradition requires of every male guest.
The accused’s brother then tried to push the 28-year-old onto the dance floor. However, the latter resisted and a scuffle and a rather abrupt exchange of words ensued. Then the 22-year-old accused joined in and stabbed the person who had refused to follow customs six times in the back, arm and shoulder with a knife.
For the hairdresser, who was unwilling to dance, the celebration was now over. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and had to undergo emergency surgery. According to the public prosecutor’s office, it was only thanks to other wedding guests who intervened that the 22-year-old Gladbeck man could be restrained. The victim still suffers from the injuries of the attack. In court, the perpetrator explained that he had felt threatened. He now faces up to 15 years in prison. More days of trial are scheduled. The verdict is expected in mid-June.