Bouyeri: "I would do exactly the same."

Mohammed Bouyeri, the 27-year-old Dutch-Moroccan national on trial for the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, confessed in court Tuesday that he had acted out of religious motives, and that if given the opportunity, he would kill again.

"I take complete responsibility for my actions. I acted purely in the name of my religion," Bouyeri told the court. "I can assure you that one day, should I be set free, I would do exactly the same, exactly the same."

Van Gogh's mother was in court, and Bouyeri addressed her. "I have to admit I do not feel for you, I do not feel your pain, I cannot—I don't know what it is like to lose a child," he said. He added that, "I cannot feel for you . . . because I believe you are an infidel."

Bouyeri shot Van Gogh 15 times, stabbed him, slit his throat, and affixed a note to his corpse threatening others. The prosecutor called for a life sentence, and asked the court to strip Bouyeri of the right to vote or run for office, "to literally place him outside of our democracy," according to wire-service reports.