Overview

• Block reiterated that she did not order the New Year 2023/24 retrieval, saying she only discussed hypothetical plans and later blamed the security firm for acting on its own.
• She testified she first learned from media reports about alleged violence during the transport, while prosecutors maintain the children were gagged and the daughter bound.
• Block said she sought to cooperate with police on Jan. 1, citing a handset number passed via partner Gerhard Delling, as prosecutors noted a police memo describing her as hard to reach.
• Courtroom exchanges grew heated between defense and the father’s counsel, the judge warned the gallery over disruptions, and the session ended an hour early due to Block’s exhaustion; proceedings resume Aug. 26.
• Prosecutors allege operatives from Cyber Cupula carried out the abduction and have issued international warrants including for alleged ringleader David Barkay; seven defendants, including Delling for aiding, deny all charges against the backdrop of a protracted German-Danish custody dispute.