In Germany, the verdict was announced to the killers of Ukrainian basketball players

The regional court in Essen, Germany, sentenced four teenagers for the murder of two Ukrainian basketball players, Volodymyr Yermakov and Artem Kozachenko. About this informs WDR.

According to the court decision, young people aged 14 to 16 attacked the Ukrainians with knives and clubs, which led to the death of the latter. The court found the attackers guilty, but did not find xenophobic motives in the attackers’ actions. The accused, as stated in the decision, acted without a specific reason, being aware of their cruelty.

Previously, the prosecutor’s office assumed that the crime could be motivated by the nationality of the victims. The court sentenced two teenagers to 10 years in prison, and the other two to 8.5 years. During the hearing, the defendants asked for forgiveness from the relatives of the victims. The court’s decision has not yet entered into force, as the defendants’ lawyers have announced their intention to file an appeal.

The attack took place on February 10. Two Ukrainian basketball players were on their way to Dusseldorf when they met a group of teenagers on the bus. After exiting Oberhausen’s main train station, one of the attackers stabbed both athletes.

17-year-old Volodymyr Ermakov died the same evening in the hospital during an emergency operation. His friend, 18-year-old Artem Kozachenko, died ten days later from complications caused by multiple organ failure.