The trial of members and supporters of the National Socialist Underground was the most complex and significant criminal trial in German history since the 1990 cases about the shootings at the Berlin Wall. The NSU was a three-person neo-Nazi terrorist cell (assisted by over 100 sympathizers) which committed numerous bank robberies and murdered 9 foreigners… Continue reading Court Releases 3,025-Page (!) Judgment in NSU Case
Category: BGH
How Many Innocent People Are in German Prisons?
The German press is obsessed with the American justice system. The coverage varies from wire-service blurbs about police shootings to in-depth researched pieces. Quality varies enormously, but is often low: German reporters tend to approach the topic with prejudices firmly in place, and screen their research to ensure those prejudices are confirmed. I've documented one… Continue reading How Many Innocent People Are in German Prisons?
Christin and Her Murderers — Inside a German Murder Trial
(cross-posted to German Joys) The public radio station for Berlin-Brandenburg recently released an 8-part podcast -- "Christin and Her Murderers" exploring a German murder case. The podcast yields interesting insights into German criminal trials, mainly because the authors -- Martina Reuter und Uta Eisenhardt -- got unusual access to the main players in the case:… Continue reading Christin and Her Murderers — Inside a German Murder Trial
Drag-Race Deaths, Intent, and Murder in German Law
Two interesting and controversial judgments have been handed down by German courts recently in cases involving high speed chases and drag races in German cities. Illegal drag races have happened in Germany since there were cars, but the new phenomenon is driven by young males from urban areas, usually of immigrant background, who conduct either… Continue reading Drag-Race Deaths, Intent, and Murder in German Law