Germany seeks Syrian man in death of Arab Israeli

Public prosecutor’s office seek arrest of a Syrian medical student for killing an Arab-Israeli woman last month.

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL, JPOST CORRESPONDENT
arrest 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Eric Gaillard )
arrest 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Eric Gaillard )
BERLIN – The public prosecutor’s office in the western German city of Göttingen told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that authorities, including Interpol, are seeking the arrest of a Syrian medical student for killing an Arab-Israeli woman last month.
According to Andreas Buick, a spokesman for the Göttingen prosecutor’s office, an arrest warrant has been issued for the murderer of 26- year-old Suwad Hamza. The suspect is being pursued internationally, as he has ostensibly fled Germany, although it is unclear if he is currently in Syria.
RELATED:Israel harshly rejects European criticism of settlements A trace from the 24-year-old suspect – in his seventh semester as a medical student at Göttingen University – was found on Hamza’s body. An autopsy showed that she was choked to death.
Hamza was found dead in her student dormitory in December. When asked about motive, Buick said there was no sexual or political background to the murder.
Rather, it took place in the context of a “personal relationship” between the suspect and victim.
Buick added that local investigators have questioned many witnesses acquainted with Hamza and the suspect.
Hamza’s body was sent back to Israel on Christmas day; her family lives in Kafr Kana, near Nazareth. The victim was also in her seventh semester as a medical student at the university, having arrived in Germany threeand- a-half years ago.
Buick said the suspect would face a life sentence in a German prison if convicted.
If he has fled to an EU member country, he could face extradition to Germany with criminal legal proceedings taking place in Göttingen. If he has fled to a non-EU country, the location of proceedings will depend on whether the country agrees to extradite him.
The public prosecutor’s office declined to name the suspect because of “investigatory tactical” reasons. The office has been in contact with the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, Buick said.