Syrian convicted over fatal attack on gay couple in Germany

A Syrian man has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for stabbing two men in the German city of Dresden

BERLIN -- A Syrian man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison Friday for stabbing a gay couple in the German city of Dresden, killing one man and seriously wounding his partner in an attack last year that prosecutors said was motivated by Islamic extremist beliefs. The state court in Dresden convicted the 21-year-old, who has been identified only as Abdullah A.H.H. in line with German privacy rules, of murder, attempted murder and bodily harm, news agency dpa reported. Judges ruled that he bears particularly severe guilt, which effectively means he won't be released after 15 years as is common in Germany. The attack took place on Oct. 4 as the two men in their 50s were visiting Dresden. The court found that the defendant attacked the couple from behind because he believed homosexuality to be a “grave sin.”