Medical expert tells German court slain Egyptian woman had no chance of survival

Expert: Slain Egyptian woman had no chance

DRESDEN, Germany — A medical expert testified Tuesday that a knife attack on a 31-year-old Egyptian woman in a German court room caused serious injuries and left her with just minutes to live.

Christine Erfurt was giving evidence in the trial of alleged attacker Alexander Wiens, who is accused of smuggling a 7-inch (18-centimeter) kitchen knife into the same Dresden court room in July and stabbing Marwa al-Sherbini to death.

Erfurt told the court Tuesday that an autopsy revealed al-Sherbini was stabbed 16 times and suffered serious injuries to her internal organs, including her lungs and heart.

“She must have been stabbed with considerable force,” Erfurt said, noting that several of her ribs had been severed by the knife. She said the victim had no chance of survival.

Wiens — whom authorities had previously identified only by his last initial in accordance with German media regulations — has been charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm. A verdict is expected Nov. 11.

The attack outraged Muslims in her homeland, Egypt, and elsewhere, who dubbed al-Sherbini “the headscarf martyr” and lambasted the attack as evidence of Islamophobia in Europe.

Members of al-Sherbini family including her husband, Elwy Ali Okaz, are acting as co-plaintiffs in the trial — meaning they can review evidence, file motions and question witnesses.

On the trial’s opening day Monday, Okaz described the attack for the court, saying the suspect continued to stab his wife even after she had fallen. Okaz was also injured trying to protect his wife.