extremism
Lübcke murder case: Lawyers complain about gaps in the judgment at the BGH
Was killed on June 1, 2019 at home on his terrace at close range with a shot in the head: Walter Lübcke. photo
© Swen Pförtner/dpa
In 2019, the Kassel District President Lübcke was shot dead on his terrace by a right-wing extremist. The family of the deceased is calling for a new trial before the BGH.
Representatives of the family of the murdered CDU politician Walter Lübcke and the federal prosecutor’s office have asserted gaps and shortcomings in the judgment of the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court (OLG). They demanded before the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) that the judgment be set aside and that the case be referred back to a new trial.
The Higher Regional Court does not explain plausibly how the DNA of the main defendant Stephan Ernst got to the body of the Kassel district president, said a lawyer for the relatives who took part in the hearing. “At this point in the core event there is a large black hole.” Among other things, the court did not stringently classify the role of the alleged helper Markus H., said the federal prosecutor.
The widow described her loss in haunting words. “With this murder not only his life was destroyed, but also some of ours,” said Irmgard Braun-Lübcke. The family has to deal with it. Sometimes it works better, sometimes less well.
“The current verdict still leaves a few questions unanswered”
“He liked being a grandpa,” said Braun-Lübcke about her husband. When he was shot about three years ago, the first grandchild was one year old. There are now four grandchildren in the world. “He doesn’t see her anymore,” the widow made clear. Also, her husband couldn’t give them anything anymore – he still had so much to give.
Lübcke was shot about three years ago. In January 2021, the Higher Regional Court sentenced Ernst to life imprisonment as a murderer. The right-wing extremist killed the politician because of his liberal attitude to refugee policy. Markus H., who was accused of helping out, received a suspended sentence for a weapon offence.
The proceedings also concern a knife attack on an Iraqi asylum seeker, who was also accused of Ernst. Revisions are available from all sides. The judgment of the BGH is expected to be announced on August 25th. (Az. 3 StR 359/21)