Deadly shots in the betting office: "Nothing could have happened"

The Hells Angels boss distributes air kisses to his boys in the auditorium: Kadir Padir waves his supporters in the hall 500 of the Berlin district court. They reciprocate his affection and slap their fists on their hearts. Kadir Padir stands behind bulletproof glass and smiles. Someone calls "I love you". Big gestures instead of last words.

Kadir Padir has nothing to say to the court on this last day before the verdict. "Mr. Padir, do you want to explain something else?" Asks the presiding judge the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Tahir Ozbek. "No," says the 35-year-old. "No," says Recep O, the gunman. "No," six other defendants say. "I have a lot to say to the prosecutor," Yakup S. says, "but I'll deny it." Only one wants to talk.

Kassra Z. joins this time not in the silence of his former rocker brothers. The key witness in the trial for the murder in a Wettcafé in Berlin-Reinickendorf is the only one who wants to say a few words. The next day the judges will have the very last word when they will pronounce their verdict in the afternoon. Kassra Z. addresses his words to the family of Tahir Özbek.

The 26-year-old Özbek died on 10 January 2014. He was sitting in the back room of the betting café "Expekt", as at about 23 clock 13 partly masked men stormed into the store, Recep O. front. He had shot out of fear, O claims, because he feared his victim would have a gun. He and the other Hells Angels would have simply intimidated Tahir Ozbek, not wanting to kill. There are ten men between the ages of 30 and 43 sitting in the dock. The trial of an eleventh defendant was severed. Two alleged accomplices are on the run.

Recep O. denies killing Padir on behalf of Kadir. All other defendants say: There was no murder plan. The prosecutor's office, however, assumes murder for revenge.

Kassra Z., called "the Persian", had testified comprehensively to the state criminal investigation office a few weeks after the death of Tahir Özbek. Since then, he has been considered a traitor in the scene because it's not enough for a Hells Angel to talk to investigators. But he also says that there was no murder order by Kadir Padir.

"The Persian" apologizes

In court, Kassra Z. wants to seize the opportunity for a final word. He speaks freely. He falters, breaks off sentences, starts again. "I would like to address my last word to the Özbek family," he says. "I'm terribly sorry for the whole story." He repeats the sentence several times. It's hard for him to find the right words. "None of this should have happened," he says. He was very close when Tahir Özbek's sister described in court how much the family was suffering from the child's death. "I wish the family that they can regain their footing in some way so that it comes out." He pauses for a moment, searches for words and concludes, "I'm sorry."

In the video: Tahir Özbek's mother speaks

Video

MIRROR TV

In front of the courthouse Yakup S., one of the defendants, enters the car with the men from the auditorium and drives away. He is the only defendant not in custody. He faces only a conviction for unauthorized possession of weapons, not for murder. The suspicion that he had incited the others together with Kadir Padir to the murder, could not be confirmed. The prosecution has demanded in her plea two years imprisonment for the 43-year-olds.

Kadir P. and the others are threatened with life imprisonment for joint murder. Kassra Z could receive a fine rebate for his extensive cooperation with the investigators.

More about the trial of Kadir Padir and the Hells Angels on SPIEGEL TV: 7 October, 23:25, on RTL.