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

The defense of AfD politician Björn Höcke has filed an appeal against the verdict made on Tuesday before the Halle regional court. This was 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 (May 15th) 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 when asked by the dpa. 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.

Judgment not final due to appeal

With the filing of 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.

The verdict against the 52-year-old Thuringian AfD leader will not initially become legally binding if an appeal is lodged. 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.