Trial in the Walter Lübcke case started in Frankfurt - Judge Sagebiel in criticism

The trial of the murder of Walter Lübcke started in Frankfurt. The presiding judge Sagebiel is already criticized.

• Trial of the murder of President Walter Lübcke from Kassel
• Judge at the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court is chairman in the trial
• Thomas Sagebiel is criticized even before the beginning

Kassel / Frankfurt - Even before the first hearing on Tuesday (June 16, 2020) in the murder case of Walter Lübcke , Thomas Sagebiel is criticized. The presiding judge heads the probably most important trial of the year at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt (OLG) and has ensured that only a few people can observe him.

While other courts have moved to external buildings due to the Corona measures, Sagebiel and his colleagues from the State Protection Senate decided to meet in the high-security room 165 C in Frankfurt as planned. The room itself is small. The pandemic means that only a third of the places in the trial for Walter Lübcke's death can be filled.

Frankfurt: Walter Lübcke process - no laptops, no cell phones 

Stephan Ernst is said to have shot Walter Lübcke.

© picture alliance / dpa

Unlike in the Munich NSU trial, the 19 journalists in the hall are not allowed to use laptops or cell phones. 41 other out of 200 accredited media representatives can still follow the negotiations by audio transmission in another building in the court complex in Frankfurt - if they get a place in the Walter Lübcke case.

Annette Ramelsberger, court reporter for the “ Süddeutsche Zeitung ”, judges: “The Senate treats the process observers like annoying guests who you cannot get rid of and at least want to keep them as small as possible. The court does not defend the rule of law by foreclosure. It breeds distrust. "

Tomorrow, Sagebiel will lead the # Lübcke- # process in front of @OLG_Frankfurt. He has presided over the State Protection Senate since 2010.https: //t.co/zM3HYf6nk5

Frankfurt: Walter Lübcke case - surprised by the judge's hard line

Even in the press department of the OLG Frankfurt , one is amazed at Sagebiel's unusually hard line, as was already clear at a press conference two weeks ago. Nevertheless, the 64-year-old enjoys a high reputation among lawyers. Observers praise the foresight and expertise of southern Hesse, which once worked at the jury chamber at the Darmstadt district court.

At the OLG Frankfurt , Sagebiel was already leading spectacular processes several times before the Walter Lübcke case. In 2012, he was responsible for the trial of the Islamist assassin who had killed two US soldiers and seriously injured two others at Frankfurt Airport a year earlier . Sagebiel led an unusual genocide trial against a former mayor from Rwanda. 

Frankfurt: Long murder trial expected in the Walter Lübcke case

In the next few months, he will continue to be responsible for the proceedings for a child who has died of thirst in Syria. And this despite the fact that in the Lübcke murder case, on average two appointments are scheduled every week until the end of October and the whole country looks at him.

In the case of the murder of Walter Lübcke, judge Thomas Sagebiel leads the proceedings.

© picture alliance / dpa

The republic was shaken by the murder of the government president  from Kassel , Walter Lübcke. The trial against the alleged murderer Stephan Ernst and his alleged accomplice Markus H. will take months. It would not be unusual for a state protection proceeding itself if no verdict was passed next summer.

Walter Lübcke trial in Frankfurt: judge before retirement

However, Thomas Sagebiel will already be 65 in May next year. A few months later, he actually wants to retire. That is why, in addition to the five judges, the Senate has appointed two additional judges, one of whom could step in if the need arises.

Sagebiel himself says nothing about this. The OLG isolates its currently most important employee from the media hype of the Walter Lübcke case . So one can only speculate how he will lead the process. Connoisseurs appreciate his easygoing manner, but most recently he called out to journalists who did not have their Corona mask on the press box properly, to say clearly: "Please put your mouthguard over your nose."

By Matthias Lohr

Frankfurt (Hessen): Long murder trial expected

The trial in Frankfurt started a year after the murder of Walter Lübcke. An overview of the actors in the mammoth process.

Frankfurt (Hessen): The trial for the murder of Walter Lübcke begins in Frankfurt. The presiding judge was already criticized.

List of rubric lists: © Arne Dedert / dpa