Defense closing statements postponed once more

The challenges for alleged bias brought by the Eminger defense last week all having been rejected, the court was once more prepared to hear the defense closing statements. However, this was not to be, not because of additional defense motions, but because Zschäpe defense counsel Borchert was absent due to a family emergency and Eminger’s new counsel was absent for health reasons.

The presiding judge tried to get the Gerlach defense to hold their closing statement today. However, the defense noted quite rightly that they were not only unprepared to do so, but that they had also always assumed that the defense teams would hold their statements in the order of the charges in the indictment – after all, Gerlach is charged as an aider and abettor of the crimes Zschäpe is charged to have perpetrated. The presiding judge next asked the Wohlleben defense, who stated that they will be ready next week. As to the Schultze defense, finally, counsel Pausch was not present today. Accordingly, the presiding judge adjourned the trial until next week.

Thus, in contrast to its sedate reactions to defense motions in the last few months, the court once again tried to pick up the pace. However, it once more did so in an unconvincing manner – of course all parties to the trial had always assumed that the defense teams would hold their statements in the order of the charges in the indictment, as this is the only order which makes sense.

The trial will continue next Tuesday, 24 April.