Alfred Dierlamm, the star among the defense lawyers for former Wirecard boss Markus Braun, is quitting. The reason: the coffers are empty. The day could also mark a turning point in the trial.
This Wednesday, the case is actually supposed to be about Stephan E., the former chief accountant at Wirecard. In the morning, his defense attorneys met with the judges for a legal discussion to explore a possible deal. Before the court can report the result, however, another piece of news bursts into the underground courtroom in Munich-Stadelheim: Alfred Dierlamm, the star defense attorney for the former Wirecard boss, is quitting. Markus Braun, who was once celebrated as a visionary and who rose to billionaire status thanks to his Wirecard shares, has run out of money. From now on, he only has public defenders left, and their fees are paid by the state treasury.