Ex-RAF terrorist in court: burdock process in Reithalle-“completely oversized”

For the new meeting room in a converted riding hall on the outskirts of Verden, the accused finds former RAF terrorists Daniela Klette clear words. “I was already ready,” she says on the first day of the trial in the new premises. But she could not imagine these dimensions. “What crazy people are responsible for this?”

Several million for provisional courtroom

The Verden district court rented and rebuilt the spacious site for around 3.6 million euros. The landlord covered the costs for the renovation. It is visible that the Reithof has a new function. Security fences, barbed wire and privacy protection secure the entrances, cameras monitor the site, numerous police officers and police officers are on site.

In the 800 square meter courtroom itself, there is a lot of reminiscent of the original purpose of the building, such as the wooden gang on the edge of the hall and the high ceiling. It smells of Reithalle, say visitors. The area for the audience and the press is separated by a wall with large glass windows. They pursue what the process participants say via loudspeakers.

A gong like in school

The accused burdock sits on a long white table with its lawyers. She waves to the audience to greet friends. In contrast to the previous appointments in the state protection hall of the Celle Higher Regional Court, it is not shielded by a glass wall.

When a loud gong at the beginning of the negotiation and the note “Please take your places”, laughs. The gong reminds some of school lessons in the audience or an announcement in the train station.

The former RAF terrorist has been on trial for around two months because of a series of raids on supermarkets and money transporters. The public prosecutor accuses her attempted murder, unauthorized possession of weapons and attempted and completed heavy robbery.

Together with her alleged accomplices Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, she is said to have captured more than 2.7 million euros. CLAPTER was arrested in Berlin in February last year, dust and Garweg are still being sought.

The defense requests that the negotiation will be conducted in the area of ​​the district court in Verden in the future. The court is centrally located and more accessible, one of the lawyers argues. There is enough space for the co -action, the media and the audience. “This hall is completely oversized,” criticizes the defense. The building contributes to prejudice and gives the impression that a concrete danger is from burdock.

Space for further accused in the hall

The prosecution sees it differently. “I am an optimistic person,” says the prosecutor. “What if a second accused is added?” She asks with a view to Velcro, alleged accomplice dust and garbus, which is searched for. A second, still abandoned dock is already in the room.

Some residents are unsure whether it is right to pay so much money for a temporary place of negotiation. “I know people who participated in the renovation work. What was rebuilt there is a lot,” says 28-year-old Paul, who is currently going for a walk with his dog. “That could have been made cheaper,” he says with a view to the high costs. He is already wondering whether tax money is wasted.

Such a great process in the neighborhood is exciting. It is okay that the police therefore drive around his apartment. “It’s different, but I’m actually not worried,” he says. According to him, the redesign of the site, which has been empty for years, also has good. “After all, it has a purpose now.”

Attraction for visitors to the area?

Other people from the surrounding area are curious about what changes the process will bring against one of the most searched women in Germany for years. “Maybe I also benefit from there,” says Lieselotte Heemsoth, who runs a country inn, a guest house and a riding stable with her family. This special court hearing may be an additional attraction for some guests, she explains.

Heemsoth himself wants to go to the new negotiating room at some point. “If it is already in the neighborhood, you should also visit it,” she says. Other passers -by show no more interest in the unusual courtroom. “I don’t care,” says a cyclist who briefly stops at the heavily guarded entrance.

Beeping chicks in the audience area

In the converted riding hall with a modern light and technician system, two civil servants are asked as witnesses this morning. The acoustics in the large space is challenging. “We have a massive problem to understand them,” says a defender to the presiding judge. “It echoes enormously.” The words of the process participants and testimonies are also difficult to understand in the auditorium.

This is not only due to the technology, but also because of very loud twittering birds. At some point the beep becomes even louder and the reason is clear: a small fluffy chick sits in the gang and draws attention to itself loudly and hopping. Obviously it fell out of a nest. Justice officials bring the small beep outdoors.

This incident also makes it clear that it is an unusual negotiating place: birds are rare in the court, not in riding halls. Because with bars, protrusions and a special roof structure, they offer good nesting options.