The public prosecutor is convinced that the singer gave the Hitler salute. In court, her lawyer denied the accusation – and explained the consequences Müller now has to live with.
Did pop singer Melanie Müller (36) give the Hitler salute at a concert in Leipzig? The Leipzig District Court has dealt with this question. The public prosecutor’s office had charged the Ballermann singer with using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The incident is said to have occurred during a performance in September 2022. “The defendant shouted East, East, East Germany and raised her hand several times in the Hitler salute,” said public prosecutor Thomas Schmelzer at the start of the trial at the Leipzig District Court. The 36-year-old, who appeared in a pink suit with shorts and a long pearl necklace around her neck, denied the accusation.
Her lawyer Adrian Stahl explained that the hand movement was intended as a rousing gesture for the audience. She had already made the arm movement at many concerts, accompanied by the battle cry: “Zicke Zacke, Zicke Zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi”. Numerous right-wing extremist slogans were chanted from the audience. When Melanie Müller heard these, she stopped the concert, the defense attorney emphasized.
Müller: “I don’t have right-wing views”
Furthermore, his client does not have right-wing views and is apolitical. The former RTL jungle queen had already emphasized this on social media. Müller is presumed innocent until a final conviction.
The prosecutor stressed that the defendant was not accused of having right-wing views. But the question was whether she had shown the Hitler salute during her appearance on September 17, 2022. For him, it was not a normal or harmless hand gesture.
Lawyer: Drugs belonged to a friend
In addition, the former RTL jungle queen must answer for drug possession after 0.69 grams of cocaine mixture and an ecstasy tablet were found during a search of her apartment in Leipzig.
The defense attorney explained that these did not belong to his client, but to a friend who had visited her shortly before. She had left the handbag behind. Müller had not known anything about the drugs in it. Müller himself did not want to comment. In addition, no questions from the court or the public prosecutor were allowed.
Kick-off postponed several times due to Müller’s illness
The start of the trial had previously been postponed twice at short notice after the Ballermann singer had presented a medical certificate each time.
Müller was born in Oschatz, Saxony. In 2014, she won the eighth season of “I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!” and has since appeared in numerous TV formats. She performs as a pop singer in Mallorca, among other places.
Lawyer: No more appearances since the allegations, only in Mallorca
The publication of the allegations resulted in significant financial losses for the singer, explained her defense attorney. “In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Ms. Müller no longer has any engagements. There are only a few occasional appearances in Mallorca.”
The 36-year-old did not make any personal statements during the proceedings. After the hearing, she left the courtroom with her lawyer via a back exit.
Only one witness has been summoned to the next hearing on August 13th, who was present at the concert almost two years ago. According to the judge, Melanie Müller does not have to appear in person at this hearing. The verdict could also be handed down on that day.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
