The trial regarding a fatal knife attack that took place during a football training session in Esch-sur-Alzette in January 2023 continued on Thursday, with both defendants taking the stand.
The presiding judge grew visibly impatient with the main defendant, criticising his “attitude” and stating, “It seems you have still not grasped the seriousness of the situation.” Despite repeated questioning, the youth coach could not provide a clear explanation as to why he grabbed the knife and stabbed the victim three times, despite the fact that the man was lying immobilised on his stomach, with another person sitting on top of him. The defendant attempted to justify his actions, saying, “You see it as violence, I see it as a reaction to what I’ve experienced.” Throughout his testimony, he showed no signs of remorse.
Following a short break, the defendant’s lawyer addressed the court, describing his client as “nervous” and enquiring whether he would be given the final word at the trial’s conclusion. The judge responded bluntly, stating, “If he’s going to present excuses, that won’t impress me. Not after the last quarter of an hour.”
The second defendant, a father of one of the players, presented a more restrained account during his testimony. He described the events from his perspective, recalling how the victim, a 25-year-old Iraqi refugee, arrived on the football pitch carrying two knives and began “stabbing the air.” According to the defendant, as panic spread, children at the training session screamed, fled, and some stumbled in the chaos. He claimed that the victim then focused solely on the at the time 22-year-old coach.
The defendant then went on to describe how he, the coach, and the coach’s half-brother attempted to resolve the situation. When the intruder tried to flee, the three men chased after him, motivated by “fear for the children,” as the defendant emphasised, noting they were unsure where all the children had gone.
The defendant stated that the attacker tripped while exiting the pitch and discarded his two knives shortly afterward. At this point, the defendant claimed he discarded of the 3-4 kg brick he was carrying, while the coach set aside a rubbish bin, and both tackled the intruder.
Once the victim was on the ground, the situation escalated rapidly. The defendant admitted to restraining the victim and punching him two to three times. He also stated that the coach and his half-brother punched and kicked the victim in the head and body, with the coach allegedly striking the victim’s head with a 500g rock. During the police investigation, the coach reportedly said he used the rock because he no longer had strength in his hands.
The defendant claimed that while the two brothers continued to assault the victim, he urged them to stop, saying, “Lads, stop it, that’s enough.” He stated that he lay over the victim’s body to protect him, which resulted in him being kicked by the coach’s at the time 16-year-old half-brother. Almost simultaneously, he said he felt the victim being stabbed three times and shouted again for the violence to end.
According to the defendant, the coach and his half-brother then hugged each other before leaving the scene. He added that he stayed with the victim until the ambulance arrived. The youth coach denied that the hug took place.
“He thinks he’s a hero, and that’s the problem,” said the lawyer representing the victim’s family, referring to the youth coach. The lawyer stressed that, despite discussions of remorse and an apology on the night of the incident, the defendant has yet to show either. He reiterated to the judge that once the victim was on the ground, the situation was no longer dynamic, ruling out any justification for legitimate defence or provocation.
The prosecution is seeking an 18-year prison sentence for the former coach, with at least part of the term to be served in custody. For the second defendant, who threw a brick at the victim and later punched him while he was on the ground, the prosecution has requested a fine, with the possibility of a suspended verdict, meaning no penalty would be imposed.
The trial is set to continue on Friday morning with the defence’s arguments.
2023 incident: Trial begins for fatal knife attack at Esch-sur-Alzette football field
Manslaughter trial: Witnesses struggle to recall details of fatal football field altercation
