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Power-of-Attorney Discovery Forces Reboot of Appeal After Hanau Attacker’s Father Fails to Appear

The case tests how courts weigh a prior hate-speech conviction against psychiatric findings tied to the 2020 Hanau killings.

Overview

  • The 78-year-old did not attend the Landgericht Hanau hearing, leading to an initial rejection of his appeal that was voided when a signed authorization surfaced in his lawyer’s file.
  • The court will set a new date, leaving the challenge to the lower court’s findings unresolved for now.
  • The Amtsgericht Hanau had fined him €21,600 for incitement, attempted coercion, insults, breaches of a protection order, and false accusation, with both the defense and the prosecution lodging appeals.
  • Prior proceedings recorded forced police presentation, the defendant lying down behind the dock, refusal to participate, and an in‑absentia conviction.
  • A forensic expert reported a personality disorder and possible querulous paranoia, and both sides argued the core issues exceed criminal justice, with the defense citing a ruling that his wife and son were unlawfully cremated without his knowledge.