In the trial of violent clashes between demonstrators and police on the sidelines of the 2017 G20 summit, the Hamburg Regional Court has sentenced two defendants to fines. The 29-year-old and the 35-year-old woman were guilty of breach of the peace and aiding and abetting attempted grievous bodily harm, damage to property and physical attacks on law enforcement officers, said the presiding judge after a trial lasting around seven months.
In 2017, the defendants took part in a march of 150 to 200 summit opponents, during which police officers were pelted with stones in Rondenbarg in Bahrenfeld and traffic signs, a bus stop, a company building and two cars were damaged.
Apart from their participation in the so-called “black finger” demonstration of the summit opponents, no specific criminal act could be proven against the defendants. However, they were guilty of aiding and abetting simply by taking part in the demonstration, which was designed to escalate into violence, said the judge.
Procedural costs are likely to exceed fine
Like the other demonstrators, they were dressed in black or at least dark clothes, and thus showed their solidarity with stone throwers and violent offenders among the participants. In addition, their uniformity enabled them to go into hiding in the group after their actions. “This outward militancy and the promotion of violent acts is what we are punishing here,” said the judge.
The 29-year-old was sentenced to 90 daily rates of 15 euros each, the 35-year-old to 90 daily rates of 40 euros each. In addition, the two must bear the not inconsiderable costs of the complex proceedings, which, according to the judge, will be “painful”.
An appeal against the verdict is possible within a week. The 29-year-old announced that this would now be examined in detail.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240903-930-222069/1
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