African Migrant Arrested for Beheading Wife After German Media Hailed Him as ‘Model’ for ‘Integration Success’
by David Lindfield
A migrant from the African nation of Eritrea who was once celebrated by German media as a “model migrant” is now accused of beheading and dismembering his wife, in a case that has shocked the country.
Authorities say 41-year-old Asmerom G. is the prime suspect in the killing of his wife, 31-year-old Weghata A., the mother of his infant daughter.
Investigators say parts of her body were found along a German highway last year.
However, her head has still not been located.
German Media Once Praised Him as a Success Story
Nearly a decade ago, German newspapers portrayed Asmerom G. as a success story for migrant integration.
According to reports at the time, he arrived in Germany in 2013, claiming to have fled Eritrea due to political persecution.
In 2016, he was working as an electrical assistant at a company in Rheinbach, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
German media outlets reported positively on his story, highlighting him as an example of how integration could succeed.
His employer reportedly described him as talented, reliable, and “capable of anything,” according to Bild.
Legal Trouble Followed Within a Year
However, within a year of the favorable coverage, Asmerom G. ran into trouble with the law.