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Leipzig Court Upholds Melanie Müller Conviction, Slashes Fine to €3,500

Judges said a lower penalty was warranted due to her limited means.

Overview

  • Landgericht Leipzig found Müller guilty of using banned Nazi symbols at a 2022 Leipzig concert and of drug possession, with investigators later finding 0.69 grams of a cocaine mixture and an Ecstasy tablet.
  • The new sentence is 70 day-fines at €50 each, totaling €3,500, a steep reduction from the €80,000 imposed by the Amtsgericht in 2024.
  • The court determined she repeatedly raised her right arm as parts of the crowd shouted “Sieg Heil,” and noted at least one other person made the salute.
  • Judges said she let herself be carried along by the audience rather than acting from ideology, but they rejected her account that the gesture was just stage choreography.
  • Müller disclosed roughly €1,500 in monthly net income and significant debts, which informed the lower day‑fine rate; the ruling is not final and revision to the Higher Regional Court is possible.