Murder trial in Darmstadt: Father is said to have killed his ex-wife in front of his daughter

Murder trial in Darmstadt: Father is said to have killed his ex-wife in front of his daughter

On September 15, 2025, a shocking murder trial began in the jury chamber of the Darmstadt regional court that has the community in suspense. The defendant is 37-year-old Wahid H., who is accused of killing his 34-year-old ex-wife in their apartment in Bensheim on December 4, 2024. The crime took place in front of their ten-year-old daughter, who witnessed the gruesome crime. According to public prosecutor Sebastian Zwiebel, the crime was carried out out of an “absolute desire to destroy” and was characterized by “possessive anger” because the defendant could not bear the emancipation of his former wife and had previously committed violence.

Wahid H. and his ex-wife were married between 2012 and 2024 and had three children together, two daughters and a son. According to witnesses, the defendant had already imposed a number of restrictions on his ex-wife in Afghanistan, including wearing a veil and banning her from studying. In 2021, the family fled to Germany to escape the violent relationship. This then led to a dispute over the custody of the children, which further increased tensions between the two.

The cruel act

The night before the crime, Wahid H. is said to have loudly asked to be allowed into his ex-wife's apartment and a heated argument broke out. Reports from the daughter, who experienced the scenes first hand, paint a frightening picture: the father slit the mother's throat with a "small red knife" and tried to "tear off her head." The children, covered in blood from the incident, fled to a neighbor who immediately called the police.

Wahid H. was arrested near the crime scene that same evening. The children were described as “completely traumatized” and had to be taken first to a residential group and later to a psychiatric hospital in order to come to terms with the terrible experiences. The defendant himself denies the allegations and states that he acted in self-defense. During the trial, he rejected his public defender and even refused to shake her hand, indicating a strained relationship.

Domestic violence context

The case shines a bright light on the issue of domestic violence, which is a serious problem in Germany. Statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office show that numerous cases of domestic violence were recorded between 2018 and 2023, with women predominantly suffering from violence from their partners. The number of unreported cases is very high because many of those affected do not dare to seek help for fear of further attacks or social ostracism.

The trial is expected to last several more days this month, during which additional witnesses will also be heard. The emotional toll on those involved is immeasurable. As this tragic case shows, the spiral of violence can have fatal consequences, especially in relationships that are riddled with sadness and jealousy.

The turbulent process is not just a legal process, but a reflection of social problems that we as a community must address. The fate of the children and the formative role of upbringing in the family play a central role.

For further information about the background and the course of the process, you can read the reporting on fr.de and hessenschau.de read up. Additional data on domestic violence can be found at Statista.