/ 24 August 2000

SKINHEADS DENY INTENT TO KILL MOZAMBICAN

THREE German skinheads on trial for murder have denied they intended to kill a Mozambican man despite admitting to the attack that led to his death, court officials said. Two 16-year-olds, Frank Mietbauer and Christian Richter, and 24-year-old Enrico Hiltricht went on trial this week for the racist murder of 39-year-old Alberto Adriano, who died on June 14, three days after he was beaten unconscious. The three admitted they attacked Adriano, saying they were drunk at the time, but told the court they had not intended to kill him. The three were walking in the eastern town of Dessau late on June 11 singing neo-Nazi songs when they crossed paths with Adriano. They beat him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly with army-style boots before stripping him naked. – Reuters