Murder trial of Fabian: Gina H. announces appeal to Federal Court of Justice
The Rostock Regional Court has issued its verdict in the murder case of Fabian (8). Defendant Gina H. has announced that in the event of conviction, she will appeal all the way to the highest court.
Verdict in Fabian case: defendant announces appeal to Federal Court of Justice
The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Rostock Regional Court has concluded the murder trial concerning the violent death of eight-year-old Fabian from Güstrow with a verdict. According to faz.net, the verdict was pronounced after more than 30 days of proceedings — the case had attracted nationwide attention.
The defendant is 30-year-old Gina H. from Reimershagen in Rostock district. The prosecution alleges that she killed the boy on 10 October 2025 — approximately eight weeks after Fabian's father, her long-term partner, ended their relationship.
Prosecution: Six stab wounds at a remote pond
According to the prosecution's account, Gina H. lured the boy, who was alone in his mother's flat due to illness, out of the house and killed him at a remote pond near Klein Upahl with six stab wounds to the torso. The prosecution cited revenge against the father for the separation, as well as the hope of being able to restart their relationship without the child, as the motive. The prosecutors spoke of an "immovable" chain of evidence consisting of numerous circumstantial clues and demanded a life sentence and a finding of particular severity of guilt.
Defence: gaps in the chain of evidence
Gina H. denied the allegations throughout the trial, most recently in her so-called final statement after closing arguments from her two defence lawyers. These requested acquittal. Their argument: the chain of evidence contained significant gaps which the prosecution had filled with speculation and conjecture. Also decisive was the testimony of two children who claimed to have seen Fabian in Güstrow — at a time when, according to the prosecution, he was already dead.
Under law, at least four of the five judges and lay judges of the criminal chamber must agree to a guilty verdict. The exact voting remains secret. Presiding judge Holger Schütt explained the verdict over several hours, as a court spokesperson had announced in advance.
Gina H. wants to appeal to the "highest court"
In the event of conviction, Gina H. has announced that she will exhaust her legal remedies fully. Her defence lawyers would initially request a review at the Federal Court of Justice. Whether the prosecution would for its part appeal in the event of a possible acquittal remained open at the time of reporting.
Enormous public interest, extensive files
The trial began at the end of April. Since then, the criminal chamber has heard 75 witnesses and nine expert witnesses. The electronically maintained case file comprises 19 volumes — if printed, that would amount to approximately 45,000 sheets of paper according to court spokesperson Anne Kruse. In addition there are 28 supplementary volumes and various subsidiary files. The chamber had 3.6 terabytes of electronic traces, particularly data from seized mobile phones.
Public interest was extraordinarily high: the approximately 150 public seating places in the courtroom were completely filled on numerous trial days. Several media outlets covered the proceedings via live ticker. Numerous journalists travelled to Rostock once again for the verdict announcement. In the courtroom there was restrained applause after the verdict was announced.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)