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He appeared before the Regional Court on charges of serious offences committed on Eisenbahnstraße in Leipzig, but was deemed not criminally responsible due to schizophrenia: the criminal division of the court has now ruled that the young man is to be permanently admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Among other things, the 22-year-old is alleged to have inflicted potentially life-threatening injuries on another man with a knife.
The so-called secure treatment proceedings against Muhamad M. began in mid-May at the Leipzig Regional Court . From the outset, the aim was not to punish the suspect, but to secure his permanent admission to a psychiatric hospital. The prosecution assumed that the 22-year-old suffers from a disorder within the “schizophrenic spectrum” and committed the offences whilst in this state. The charges on record include multiple counts of grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempted aggravated extortion.
“You can’t kill me, but I can kill you”
The first incident reportedly took place on 9 August 2025 at around 02:42, when Muhamad M. is alleged to have stolen a smartphone from another man at an outdoor seating area on Eisenbahnstraße. When the victim demanded the device back, Muhamad M. is said to have stabbed him in the chest with a knife and fled without checking on the victim. The victim suffered potentially life-threatening injuries, including to his lung – emergency surgery saved the man’s life.
Shortly before 3.00 am, just minutes after the first attack, Muhamad M. is said to have threatened the owner of a nearby bar with a knife and demanded money inside the premises. During the incident, he is reported to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” and “You can’t kill me, but I can kill you”. However, the attempted robbery failed because the bar owner and a helper kept the uninvited guest at bay with a wooden bat and a torch. Shortly afterwards, another attempt to obtain money in a café ended just as unsuccessfully.
Committal to a psychiatric hospital ordered for an indefinite period
Following his arrest, the man, who was born in Afghanistan, underwent a psychiatric assessment and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in mid-October 2025, where he has remained ever since. On 30 June, following several days of hearings, the decision was finally handed down: the 6th Criminal Division of the Regional Court ordered the indefinite detention of Muhamad M., who is said to have repeatedly come to the attention of the authorities even before the offences under consideration here.
The expert opinion of the forensic psychiatrist Dr Matthias Lammel was also a decisive factor in this case. The decision was in line with the prosecution’s wishes, whilst, according to the court, the defence had requested that the detention be waived. The ruling was not yet legally binding at that stage.
Committal for an indefinite period is not regarded as a punishment, but as a measure to protect the public and to provide therapy and treatment for mentally ill offenders. Their condition is regularly assessed, and a decision is made as to whether they still pose a significant risk in future. Should this be ruled out, release is possible, possibly subject to conditions. However, unlike in the case of a fixed-term prison sentence, an exact date cannot be predicted.
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