Right-wing extremist Franco A. back in court in Darmstadt – resisting police officers
Convicted right-wing extremist Franco A. has been before the Darmstadt regional court since Tuesday. He is accused of resisting law enforcement officers.
New proceedings against Franco A. at Darmstadt regional court
Former Bundeswehr officer Franco A., convicted of terror preparation, has been before the Darmstadt regional court since Tuesday in new criminal proceedings. According to hessenschau.de, this time the case concerns resisting law enforcement officers.
According to the indictment, two police officers stopped the then 37-year-old at Offenbach S-Bahn station Ledermuseum on 11 February 2022. When the officers wanted to open a plastic bag he was carrying, Franco A. allegedly attempted to flee – unsuccessfully. In the subsequent scuffle with additional police officers who arrived at the scene, he allegedly kicked and attempted to pull a knife from a jacket pocket.
The defendant, who remains in custody, denied the allegations. His personal diaries had been in the bag, which he did not wish to hand over to the officers. "I certainly did not kick," Franco A. said. He had also not reached for the knife, since he always carried it in his right trouser pocket, he explained repeatedly.
However, an evidence list read out by the court revealed that no diaries had been seized from the defendant. Instead, the bag contained, among other things, badges with Prussian eagles, swastikas and Iron Crosses as well as two small books. The medals came from a family estate, Franco A. said – he had not thought of them during the police stop.
The Frankfurt Higher Regional Court had sentenced Franco A. with final effect in July 2022 to five and a half years imprisonment – for preparation of a serious act of violence endangering the state, illegal possession of weapons and fraud. The court determined that he held far-right, völkisch-nationalist and racist views and found that the convicted man intended to attack senior politicians and public figures. Franco A. had denied the allegations at that time.
Until 11 February 2022 he was at liberty. In the current proceedings, the defence has called for an acquittal. Three trial days are currently scheduled for the Darmstadt regional court proceedings until 30 June.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)