The Hamburg Regional Court excluded the public during the questioning of witness Jonathan G. The 35-year-old former model is alleged to have been involved in the abduction of two children on New Year’s Eve 2023/2024. The defense wanted to question him about a suicide attempt during his military service – the chamber granted his request for exclusion due to “interests worthy of protection.”
This step could now mean that the closing arguments and the defendants’ “last word” are also not public. The reason is Section 171b of the Courts Constitution Act: once the public has been excluded due to interests worthy of protection, it must be excluded for “final submissions” if the charge of mistreatment of wards also plays a role in the proceedings – which the prosecution accuses Christina Block of. The businesswoman denies the acts; the focus is on the “alleged serious abduction of minors.”
Whether the exclusion will actually occur remains unclear. A spokesperson for the Hamburg courts told the FAZ: “Of course, the chamber will act in accordance with the provisions of the Courts Constitution Act.” They asked for understanding that they would not preempt individual procedural steps in the media. On the next trial day, July 27, a youth psychiatric expert is scheduled to testify about the consequences of the abduction for the children – the public could also be excluded then.
Source: www.faz.net
