DRESDEN (Germany) - A MAN accused of defamation stabbed a female witness to death in a German court on Wednesday and wounded several others, police and prosecutors said.

The 28-year-old man, identified only as Axel W., was overpowered and is now being investigated for manslaughter over the killing of the 32-year-old woman, aid Christian Avenarius, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office in the eastern city of Dresden.

'There were several people injured,' he added, without giving further details.

The court was hearing his appeal against a fine slapped on him last year for defamation.

Following the attack, which happened at 10.30am (0830 GMT), the court was sealed off immediately. There are no indications as to motive, Avenarius said.

In April, a 60-year-old man shot dead his sister-in-law in a courtroom rampage in the southern city of Landshut.

The gunman shot and wounded a lawyer involved in the case and another sister-in-law before turning the Smith and Wesson revolver on himself, prompting a debate about security during trials. -- AFP