A 23-year-old man known for his passion for weapons shot and killed his girlfriend with an assault rifle in Saint-Leonard, in the south of Switzerland, on Friday night.

"/> A 23-year-old man known for his passion for weapons shot and killed his girlfriend with an assault rifle in Saint-Leonard, in the south of Switzerland, on Friday night.

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Swiss man shoots girlfriend in face

A 23-year-old man known for his passion for weapons shot and killed his girlfriend with an assault rifle in Saint-Leonard, in the south of Switzerland, on Friday night.

The parents of Christina B. were preparing to celebrate their daughter’s 21st birthday on Saturday. Instead they had to mourn her death. She died the night before, when her boyfriend Anthony shot her in the face during an argument.

After killing Christina in the flat where they lived together, Anthony ran to a nearby bar. There he announced that he had killed his girlfriend and asked people to call the police.

“He was completely beside himself, crying and screaming,” a customer at the bar told newspaper Le Matin.

Anthony then cut his own throat with a knife and ran to the centre of the village, where he was intercepted by several people before officials arrived.

Christina’s father dismissed Anthony’s claims that the killing came in a moment of madness, instead describing his daughter’s boyfriend as a “psychopath.” Jean-Michel B. told Le Matin that, after shooting her, Anthony “brought her to bed, placed a blanket over her and crossed her arms. Then he put a mobile phone in her hands.”

Jean-Michel said that the 23-year-old man “was crazy about firearms” and “used to boast of stealing ammunition from the army”. The victim’s father also said that Anthony “used to sleep with his assault rifle loaded next to bed.” Anthony also has a previous conviction for holding up a McDonald’s.

Jean-Michel told the newspaper Blick that he and his wife noticed that Christine often bore bruises and advised their daughter against staying in the relationship.

“But she always returned to him,” the father said.

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WEAPONS

Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic

Switzerland’s weapons exports have seen a 38 percent increase in 2020, according to official government figures.

Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic
Swiss weapons exports are on track for their highest year on record. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Switzerland exported CHF690 worth of weapons over the first nine months of 2020. That’s a 38 percent increase on the CHF500 million sold over the corresponding period in 2019. 

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published the figures on Tuesday

The biggest customers for Swiss weaponry were Denmark, Indonesia and Germany. 

In total, 76 countries bought Swiss weapons during the period. 

According to current figures, weapons exports are on track to be the highest in Swiss history – beating the record of CHF893 million set in 2011. 

‘Death business is flourishing’ 

The news has been heavily criticised by a number of non-government organisations critical of weapons being sold to countries at war or who may use them against their own citizens. 

The Organisation for Switzerland without an Army (GSOA) and Terre des Hommes have been critical of the figures, particularly as the industry has called for a decrease in regulation in recent years. 

GSOA wrote in a statement “the death business is flourishing”. 

Saudi Arabia – currently involved in a conflict in Yemen – appear on the list, along with Brazil. Weapons opponents are concerned the Swiss exports could be used in the country’s slums, Der Bund reports

 

 

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