Murder trial of eight-year-old Fabian from Güstrow: verdict expected at Rostock Regional Court
The 3rd Criminal Chamber at Rostock Regional Court will deliver its verdict today in the Fabian murder case. The prosecution is seeking a life sentence for the 30-year-old defendant Gina H.
Verdict in the Fabian murder case: Rostock Regional Court concludes more than 30 trial days
Rostock Regional Court is concluding today the trial over the murder of eight-year-old Fabian from Güstrow. According to stern.de, the 3rd Criminal Chamber will deliver its verdict after more than 30 trial days. The presiding judge Holger Schütt is expected to spend several hours justifying the decision, according to a court spokeswoman.
The defendant is 30-year-old Gina H. from Reimershagen in Rostock district. The prosecution is convinced that she killed her long-term partner's child on 10 October 2025. Fabian's father had separated from Gina H. eight weeks before the boy's death.
Prosecution: revenge as motive, six stab wounds to the torso
According to the prosecution, Gina H. lured the boy, who was alone at home due to an illness, out of his mother's flat. At a secluded pond near Klein Upahl, she is said to have killed him with six knife wounds to the torso. The prosecutors name revenge against Fabian's father for the separation and the hope of reviving the relationship if Fabian were no longer alive as motives.
The many circumstantial evidence formed an "unshakeable" chain of proof in the course of proceedings, according to the prosecution. It has demanded a life sentence and applied for the particular severity of guilt to be established. According to law, at least four of the five judges and lay judges on the chamber must agree to a guilty verdict; how the individual jurors vote remains secret.
Defence: incomplete chain of proof, witness statements in favour of the defendant
Gina H. has denied the accusations throughout the entire trial, most recently in her final statement after the closing arguments of her defence counsel. Both defence lawyers pleaded for acquittal. They argue that the chain of proof has been filled by the prosecution with conjecture and speculation. Also crucial is that two children claim to have seen Fabian in Güstrow – at a time when, according to the prosecution, he should already have been dead.
Most extensive proceedings: 75 witnesses, 3.6 terabytes of data
Since the trial began in late April, the Criminal Chamber heard 75 witnesses and nine experts. The electronically maintained main file comprises 19 volumes – if printed out, that would be 45,000 sheets of paper according to court spokeswoman Anne Kruse. In addition, there are 28 special booklets and various associated files. The Chamber had 3.6 terabytes of electronic evidence, mainly data from seized mobile telephones.
Public interest in the proceedings was extraordinarily high. The approximately 150 spectator seats in the courtroom were completely full on numerous trial days. Several media outlets reported via live ticker from every session; numerous journalists are again expected in Rostock for the verdict.
Possible appeal up to the Federal Court of Justice
Today's verdict is unlikely to be the final word in the Fabian case. Gina H. has announced that in the event of conviction she will go to the "highest court". Her defence counsel would accordingly lodge an appeal with the Federal Court of Justice. Whether the prosecution intends to lodge an appeal in the event of an acquittal has not yet been announced.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)