In the trial surrounding the violent death of two children, the mother, as a witness before the district court in Hanau, described the relationship between the siblings and her father, who was accused of two murders. The 38-year-old reported again that the children were very afraid of their father. There was no feeling of connection, the children were often tense and sad and kept urging them to look for another apartment. The siblings found moving out after the separation liberating. "It was as if they had been released from prison," the woman said, according to an interpreter. Her son in particular really blossomed. "He always said that we're finally going to live our lives now."

In the process, the mother also appears as a joint plaintiff. The public prosecutor accuses the Indian of having killed the seven-year-old girl and the eleven-year-old boy on May 11 last year insidiously and for base motives - to punish his wife, who after a separation no longer wanted to see him. He is said to have previously exerted pressure on his wife, including threats of death against her and the children. At the start of the trial, his defense attorney read out a statement. "My action is inexcusable, I deeply regret it," it said.

After family problems became known, the Hanau Youth Welfare Office had organized social-educational family support through an independent agency. The office also influenced her to allow her children to have contact with their father, the woman said - although she did not oppose it. When asked why her ex-husband might have committed the act, she explained: "It was out of anger." She left open the question of whether the in-laws exerted pressure and what their expectations were.

With tears, the woman also described everyday life with her two children. Her son liked to play football when they went to the park together in the evening. He liked going out to eat and wanted to be a police officer by profession. Her daughter liked music and made small videos of herself with a tablet.

The trial will resume on February 27th.