Six Months After Shooting of 45-Year-Old in Berlin-Mariendorf, Two Men Stand Trial for Attempted Murder
Berlin shooting trial reveals debt-fueled attempted murder plot in supermarket parking lot
BERLIN (dpa/bb) — Two defendants have appeared before Berlin Regional Court accused of the attempted murder of a man shot outside a supermarket. Prosecutors allege that the attack on the then-45-year-old victim was a "punitive action" linked to supposed debts owed by a businessman. The defendants, aged 21 and 24, remained silent when the trial opened.
According to investigators, the two men—along with other accomplices—met the victim and his son in a supermarket parking lot in the Mariendorf district on October 22, 2025. The day before, the victim and his son, as relatives of the alleged debtor, had reportedly been threatened. The defendants, both of Turkish origin, had allegedly demanded the whereabouts of the Turkish businessman but were unsuccessful.
Prosecution: "Exerting Payment Pressure"
Prosecutors believe an unidentified man ordered the collection of the businessman's debts. During the parking lot meeting, the defendants and an accomplice allegedly decided to open fire—"as part of a punitive action and to exert payment pressure on the debtor," the indictment states.
Around 8:30 p.m., the suspected attackers arrived and suddenly fired multiple shots at the 45-year-old. Three bullets struck him, two in the upper body. Believing he was fatally wounded, the assailants fled, prosecutors said. The victim survived after emergency surgery.
Witness: 22 Projectiles from Three Weapons
A police officer testifying as the first witness reported that 22 projectiles were recovered from the parking lot and a nearby bus stop. "They came from three different firearms."
The 24-year-old was arrested nearly two weeks after the attack, while the 21-year-old was initially detained in early December on unrelated charges. The trial is currently scheduled to run for 13 additional days, concluding on July 28.
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