Woman suspected of murdering 'doppelganger' lookalike in Germany

A woman charged with murder in Germany is suspected of seeking out a lookalike to kill in order to fake her own death, authorities have alleged.

When a body was found in the backseat of a car in Ingolstadt last August, it was identified as Sharaban K, a German-Iraqi beautician.

Even some of Sharaban's family members told authorities the body was hers.

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However, following an autopsy, doubt was raised over the victim's identity, and she was eventually identified as Algerian beauty blogger Khadidja O (suspects and victims of crimes in Germany are typically identified by a first name and second initial).

Police admitted the two women looked very alike, which had led to the confusion. Sharaban, along with a friend named by police as Sheqir Q, was arrested days later.

But it's only been in the past day that police have revealed a suspected motive for the alleged murder.

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State attorney general Veronika Grieser told German language news outlet Bild that Sharaban had contacted several women online who looked like her prior to Khadidja's death.

"After the investigation, it can be assumed that she wanted to go into hiding due to internal family disputes and fake her own death," Grieser said.

Police said Khadidja had been stabbed more than 50 times in what German media outlets have dubbed the "doppelganger" murder due to the physical similarities of the accused and the alleged victim.

Both the accused could face life in prison if they are convicted.

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