Murder trial Fabian: Gina H. denies killing – "like my own child"
Gina H. denies murdering her eight-year-old stepson Fabian and described a toxic relationship and difficult childhood to the court.
Gina H. testifies for the first time: No murder of Fabian, but insight into toxic relationships
According to Google News DE — Crime (de), Gina H. made her first statement before the regional court on Monday in response to the charges – and decisively denied murdering eight-year-old Fabian. The accused is alleged to have killed her stepson in October 2025 near a pond near Klein Upahl, approximately 15 kilometres south of Güstrow, with six knife wounds and subsequently set his body on fire. In emotional terms, she concluded her statement lasting several hours: "If I had murdered him, I would certainly have felt like killing my own child."
Close bond with Fabian described
Gina H. told the court that she had never perceived Fabian as a problem. She admitted to initial difficulties, but said the relationship had generally been good – the boy had called her "Mummy" several times. According to her account, Fabian's father, Matthias R., physically punished the eight-year-old on several occasions. Gina H. also reported bullying at school to which Fabian had been subjected.
Violence by Fabian's father
At the beginning of her statement, the accused described her relationship with Matthias R. as burdensome. She described herself as "faithful, loyal and unfortunately also very demanding" and admitted that within relationships she could "turn into a predator". R. allegedly inflicted physical injuries on her on several occasions: he broke her elbow once and crushed her ribs another time. Fabian had witnessed these attacks and afterwards had no respect for his father – "He no longer called him Daddy", Gina H. reported.
This account contradicted the statements of Matthias R., who had testified in court that there had been no violence. Gina H. also mentioned becoming pregnant four months after meeting him; both had decided on a termination of pregnancy.
Lack of empathy and financial independence
Gina H. repeatedly fought back tears during her testimony. Towards her ex-boyfriend, she admitted to a lack of empathy: when his father died, she had been too preoccupied with the death of her favourite horse. She rejected any financial dependence on Matthias R. – her pension was sufficient to live on, and her grandparents covered the paddock rent.
In court, Gina H. also confessed to having stolen a saddle from a former employer. The dismissal had been "entirely justified", she said.
Blood traces in car explained
Regarding the blood traces found in her vehicle, Gina H. offered a specific explanation: Fabian had injured himself during a swimming trip in the summer and needed a plaster. She had dabbed the blood with kitchen paper at the time – this was later found by police.
Difficult childhood and self-image as victim
Gina H. described a troubled childhood: her mother had shown her no affection but had beaten her, and according to her own account had consumed drugs during pregnancy. At the age of eight, she and her sister had come into the care of her grandparents. She still feels envy towards her sister – "better at school and prettier" – and said she never wanted to see her again.
She described herself as "suspicious" and "jealous" and said she had developed anxiety disorders since childhood. The authorities would doubt her illnesses, she complained. In the ongoing trial, Gina H. sees herself as a "scapegoat".
Incriminating witnesses and accusations against neighbours
Three witnesses allegedly led Gina H. to the pond – the location where Fabian's body was found. Regarding her former best friend Heike M., the accused expressed mixed feelings: she still valued M., but M. no longer wanted contact. M. had testified in court that Gina H. had led her to the body and only called the police after she urged her to do so.
According to her own account, the accused had undertaken "almost daily nocturnal outings" with Christian D., another witness; there had also been affection and kissing. "I wanted to please him", Gina H. told the court. D. had spoken in June of a purely platonic relationship and testified that Gina H. had looked for the problem with Fabian – the boy had tried to drive a wedge between her relationship with Matthias R. Gina H. expressly denies this.
The accused seriously incriminated her neighbour Olaf K. K. had allegedly threatened her with taking "what she loved most" and destroying her relationship with Matthias if she returned to him – as Gina H. is quoted before the court by "t-online". However, she herself did not believe that K. meant Fabian by this. Initially she had found K. helpful; he had even given her flowers and later expressed sexual fantasies towards her. K. allegedly hated her boyfriend. "He probably meant himself", Gina H. said about K.'s hint that she deserved something better.
Statement remains open
The second part of the testimony regarding the days before Fabian's disappearance was only touched on in the reports. On the day before his disappearance, Gina H. herself allegedly was not in Güstrow – further details from this section of her statement are still to come. The trial continues.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)