A suspected car racer has had to answer to the Augsburg district court for murder since Tuesday.

The 28-year-old is said to have accelerated his high-powered car to around 200 kilometers per hour on a state road in northern Swabia, which is why he lost control of the vehicle and killed its driver in a collision with a car on the opposite lane. The maximum speed allowed on the road was 100 km/h.

At the beginning of the trial, the defendant did not comment. His defense attorney announced that he would read a statement for his client at the next hearing in October.

The 29-year-old passenger who caused the accident is also accused. He is said to have cheered on the driver during the breakneck drive. He is charged with aiding and abetting murder. He faces a three-year prison sentence for this. In contrast to the main defendant, however, the co-driver is not in custody.

The criminal court has initially planned eight days of hearings for the trial, and the verdict could be announced at the end of October. The husband and four children of the 54-year-old woman who was killed are joint plaintiffs in the proceedings. The accused, both German citizens, also have to answer for illegal drug trafficking in the proceedings.