Overview
- The Oberlandesgericht München fixed Zschäpe’s Mindestverbüßungsdauer at 24 years, which counts her pre-trial detention and would make her earliest possible release November 2035 if the ruling stands.
- The court refused to suspend the remaining sentence for probation, saying the circumstances shown during custody do not remove the need for further punishment after the statutory 15-year review point.
- In reaching its decision the court noted Zschäpe has since acknowledged prior knowledge of nine of the ten NSU murders, expressed shame, and taken part in an exit program, but found those factors did not outweigh her exceptional culpability.
- The Bundesanwaltschaft had sought a 25-year minimum while Zschäpe’s defence asked for 20 years, and both the defence and the Federal Public Prosecutor can still file complaints or appeals against Tuesday’s ruling.
- The case sits within the larger NSU legacy: the trio’s killings, bombings and the long failure of authorities to recognize right-wing terror led to sustained public scrutiny and ongoing related prosecutions of alleged supporters.