Overview
- The court confirmed that it denied on December 22 a defense request from Christina Block to consolidate her case with the separate proceeding against her ex-husband, Stephan Hensel.
- Judges noted that 27 hearing days with extensive witness testimony and exhibits have already occurred in the ongoing trial, which would require repetition if the cases were combined.
- The indictment against Hensel and his wife over the alleged unlawful retention of the children in Denmark was admitted in April 2024, yet the case has not been opened.
- A court spokesperson said there is no legal entitlement to have the other case opened or merged, adding that a co-defendant in Block’s trial remains in pretrial detention, which accelerates scheduling.
- Eugen Block and his lawyer criticized the ruling as arbitrary and accused the chamber of stalling the Hensel case.