Former Stasi officer faces trial for 1974 Berlin border shooting

Martin Naumann is one of first former East German officials to be charged with murder instead of manslaughter

A former Stasi officer has denied the murder 50 years ago of a Polish man trying to flee to West Berlin, at the opening of a trial that could affect how communist-era killings are prosecuted in Germany.

Martin Naumann, 80, spoke only to confirm his identity as a court in Berlin began hearing the case on Thursday.