Breaking:

LG unveils 32-inch 4K 240 Hz OLED monitor for gamers

Kafka: TV actor Joel Basman speaks about the author of the century on the 100th anniversary of his death

European elections: These are the most important EU projects for the next few years

Unwetter-Ticker: Dammbruch-Warnung für Donau-Ries, Pegelrückgang in Pfaffenhofen

Trial in Halle: Höcke’s defense lawyers have appealed against the verdict

0

Trial in Hall
Höcke’s defense lawyers have appealed against the verdict

Björn Höcke in the courtroom in Halle. photo

© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

The Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke was sentenced to a fine in Halle. His lawyer has filed an appeal. The case now goes to the Federal Court of Justice.

The defense of AfD politicians Björn Höcke has lodged an appeal against the verdict handed down on Tuesday before the Halle regional court. This has now been confirmed by the spokeswoman for the Halle Regional Court, Adina Kessler-Jensch. The “Bild” newspaper had previously reported. The appeal was received by the court on Wednesday and was lodged by Höcke’s lawyer Philip Müller, said the spokeswoman. Müller did not want to comment on this when asked by the dpa.

Höcke was sentenced to a fine by the court because he knowingly used a banned slogan of the SA (Sturmabteilung) of the NSDAP in a speech.

“Yes, the appeal has been lodged,” said Höcke’s lawyer Ulrich Vosgerau on Thursday in response to a dpa query. Höcke’s spokesman Robert Teske also confirmed upon request that the politician’s defense had filed an appeal. Höcke was represented in court by a total of three lawyers. According to his lawyer Ralf Hornemann, all three have the opportunity to appeal. Hornemann said he had not yet filed an appeal.

By filing an appeal, the case now goes to the Federal Court of Justice. This only checks the verdict for violations of the law – so no further evidence is collected. Höcke had rejected the allegations against him until the end.

Fine of 13,000 euros

The verdict against the 52-year-old Thuringian AfD leader will not initially become legally binding if an appeal is filed. The regional court had sentenced him to 100 daily rates of 130 euros each.

The public prosecutor’s office had also announced that it would examine possible legal remedies. In her final speech, she called for a suspended sentence of six months and a fine of 10,000 euros for Höcke.

According to the Hessian Ministry of Culture, a final judgment and the amount of the penalty are decisive in determining whether Höcke will lose his civil service status as a teacher in the state. “So far, the judgment has not been legally binding, so we have to wait and see,” said a spokesman for the ministry. In general, if the offense of using the symbols of unconstitutional organizations is committed and a conviction of six months or more in prison, the civil service relationship ends.