PressSplit
The accused father of the Hanau attacker lay down on the floor in the courtroom, his lawyer is standing next to him. © Thorsten Becker
Curious scenes at the Hanau district court. The assassin’s father is carried into the hall. He has to answer for, among other things, sedition, insult and coercion.
Curious scenes at the Hanau district court: Because he again failed to appear for the trial, the police forcibly brought in the father of the Hanau attacker, who murdered nine people for racist motives on February 19, 2020. Four officers carried the 77-year-old into the hearing room and placed him on a chair in the dock. But the pensioner preferred to lie on the floor.
The man has to answer on suspicion of incitement to hatred, insult, coercion, false suspicion and violations of the Violence Protection Act. The defendant had already ignored the summons two weeks ago.
Johannes Hock is an experienced lawyer. But he has probably never had such an assignment as a public defender. And neither is a client like the 77-year-old father of the attacker on February 19, 2020. The first day of the trial two weeks ago was canceled because the defendant didn’t come and left his lawyer sitting.
This Thursday, the court and spectators have a different perspective for hours: the 77-year-old, who can at least be described as a troublemaker, lies behind the dock and this time leaves his public defender standing. He refuses any contact.
“The criminal judge, district director Clementine Englert, even asked several times whether the pensioner was thirsty – no response. Whether he would like to say something about the allegations – no reaction.
But the experienced judge doesn’t let herself be fooled and goes through with the procedure. There is no regulation in the Code of Criminal Procedure as to whether the defendant is standing or lying down. “If necessary, we will continue negotiations without the defendant,” she lets everyone know – legally this is possible if the defendant behaves like this.
Because in the morning, at 9:30 a.m. sharp, all the lawyers are present. Except the 77-year-old. The criminal judge suspected this and took precautions. She looks at her smartphone. “The police are on the way and will inform me.” She is sure: “The Lord will come, even if not voluntarily.”
She is right, because the First Police Chief Inspector Andreas G. and four of his colleagues opened the apartment after ringing and calling in vain at the defendant’s house. “It’s like three years ago. We found him in bed, he was fully clothed,” said the police officer, reporting that the arrested man reported heart problems. So the ambulance and emergency doctor are ordered to the western part of the city, but they leave again because the man refuses treatment.
Finally, four officers carry the man into the hearing room. He tries to defend himself and resists the demonstration – but the martial arrest squad doesn’t give him a chance. The defendant gasps for air, lies down and calls for his family doctor.
A doctor, Hildegard Müller, a recognized psychiatric expert, is already present. But she too is rejected by the man on the ground. “Is he fit to stand trial?” the judge wants to know. The expert makes it clear: “I think it’s a set-up.”
Attorney Hock applies for an adjournment until the client’s ability to stand trial has been determined – the court rejects it. Because he obviously has a lot of faxes and the 77-year-old doesn’t talk to him at all – “how am I supposed to defend him?” – he applies for a release from his duties – the court rejects him.
And so the lawyers then concentrate on the allegations made by public prosecutor Martin Links, who lists nine charges: incitement to hatred, insulting Mayor Claus Kaminsky, false suspicion, coercion and multiple violations of the no-approach ban – he is allowed to go into a house where relatives of a murder victim live , do not approach closer than 30 meters.
During a break, Attorney Hock is successful. He’s talking to his client. “I made it clear to him that his blocking attitude was of no use. I hope we can do it.” Given his previous convictions, this would be necessary, as the pensioner has already been legally sentenced to fines totaling 9,000 euros.
The defense attorney submits an application for discharge
The accused father of the Hanau attacker lay down on the floor of the courtroom, his lawyer standing next to him. thorsten becker © Thorsten Becker
