German man burns pregnant girlfriend alive because he did not want to be a father

'For him the crime was a solution. He wanted a free, happy life which he had control over,' judge says

Maria Peiner was eight months into her pregnancy (Facebook)

A man murdered his pregnant girlfriend by setting her on fire because he did not want to be a father.

A German court heard Eren Toben and a friend led eight-months-pregnant Maria Peiner to her death after telling the 19-year-old they were going to buy baby clothes

After taking her into a wood on the outskirts of Berlin, 20-year-old Toben hit her over the head with a piece of wood, stabbed her and poured petrol over before setting her alight.

The court heard Ms Peiner would still have been conscious for up to 30 seconds after she was set alight, according to the Mirror.

Toben’s fingerprints were found on the handle of the knife left near the charred remains of the body.

Toben saw the murder as a 'solution' to the unwanted pregnancy (Facebook)

Judge Regina Alex said: "For him the crime was a solution. He wanted a free, happy life which he had control over."

Toben and his accomplice, Daniel Pueller, were sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Following the trial, Maria's brother said: "I hope our family can finally have some peace."