After approximately 160 days of hearings, even amid the coronavirus pandemic and the tragic loss of two individuals, the trial against the enigmatic "Group S." stands on the brink of conclusion. The final arguments in this lengthy, multi-year terror case have been presented. The Stuttgart Higher Regional Court has announced that the long-awaited verdicts will be announced on November 30 at 9 a.m.
The federal prosecution is pushing for severe prison sentences in certain cases for the remaining eleven defendants. According to their account, this group established a terrorist organization at a gathering in Minden, Westphalia, in 2020 with the intention of attacks on mosques, inciting a civil war, and seizing power in the chaos that followed.
The prosecution seeks the most substantial sentence for the alleged leader and namesake of the trial - Werner S. They believe that this individual from Augsburg, headed the group, formulated its objectives, searched for fighters, and managed the group's weapons. The federal prosecutor's office suggests a seven-year sentence. At the other end of the spectrum, they demand a two-year and eight-month sentence.
The 20 defense attorneys, however, are arguing for acquittals for their clients. Within the courtroom, one defense lawyer labeled the group as "a collection of pompous blowhards." Another lawyer depicted the trial as a "theatrical spectacle" centered on right-wing extremism. Currently, the majority of the men are no longer in custody.
The trial was set to conclude earlier but was delayed following the sudden death of an accused from Bavaria. As per the Higher Regional Court, this individual suffered a heart attack on his way home from a trial in the Stammheim high-security wing just outside his apartment. The man had already experienced heart issues while in detention.
The defense lawyers argue that this group, deemed extremist, should not be classified as a terrorist organization, with one lawyer referring to them as "a collection of pompous blowhards." Yet, the prosecution persists that this group, under the leadership of Werner S., had procedures in place to carry out attacks, targeting mosques and aiming to seize power in the context of a potential civil war.
