A man who doused his wife in petrol and then set her alight aboard a tram in Gera, Germany, was handed a life sentence for attempted murder on Thursday.

The Gera district court found the Georgian national guilty of attempted murder and aggravated arson over the incident in March.

He also asked to pay a compulsory compensation amounting to €75,000 ($87,000).

Presiding judge Uwe Tonndorf said the 47-year-old sought to kill his wife because she wanted to terminate their marriage, and because he did not want her to lead an independent life.

The victim incurred life-threatening injuries in what Tonndorf described as “like a public execution.”

The man felt wounded in his pride and honour, the judge found, describing him as not a monster, but as someone who had burdened himself with heavy guilt.

“You have destroyed your family and your own life at the same time,” Tonndorf said.

The crime showed a desire to destroy and punish, the judge said.

The victim suffered unimaginable pain, she is suffering psychologically and will be marked for her entire life, Tonndorf added.

The attempted femicide had caused outrage well beyond Gera, the judge said.

He noted that the convicted man took his wife into his home at age 15. She then led a life subordinate to her husband for 30 years.

 (Xinhua/NAN)