Justice - Prosecutor demands two years in prison for Sven Liebich
In the proceedings against right-wing extremist Sven Liebich, the prosecution demanded a sentence of two years in prison for offenses including incitement and defamation. "I consider all the acts proven and punishable in the result of the evidence hearing," said the prosecutor during his closing argument at the Regional Court in Halle on Thursday. Therefore, he deems a two-year prison sentence appropriate.
The Magistrates' Court Halle had sentenced Liebich to a prison term of one year and six months without parole in July 2023. Both parties had filed appeals. The prosecution considered the judgment of the Magistrates' Court too lenient. Since 2014, Liebich has regularly organized demonstrations, often on the marketplace in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. There have been disputes with counter-demonstrators on several occasions. Courts have dealt with accusations against Liebich on multiple occasions.
Liebich has manifested personal enemy images for many years and acts out of conviction. "He has received several warnings and nothing has happened," said the prosecution. Therefore, he deems a suspended sentence inappropriate. The co-plaintiff confirmed this in his closing argument and accused Liebich of not taking the trial seriously.
Liebich's defense rejected the demands and called for acquittal. The defendant, who comes from Merseburg (Saalekreis), has presented a positive change in behavior in recent years. Liebich has calmed down and scaled back his political activities.
Courts have dealt with accusations against Liebich on multiple occasions. In other proceedings, he was already sentenced to fines for legal reasons. Prison sentences have also been imposed on him, including for incitement. However, these were suspended.
When Liebich was given the last word, he picked up a large folder and announced that the proceedings could last more than ten hours longer. The original judgment was scheduled for Friday.
- Despite the two-year imprisonment demanded by the prosecutor for right-wing extremist Sven Liebich's incitement and defamation offenses, the Magistrates' Court Halle had previously sentenced him to a less severe term of one year and six months in July 2023.
- The prosecutor's office in Saxony-Anhalt has filed an appeal against the judicial decision, arguing that the sentence imposed by the local court was too lenient in light of Liebich's historical patterns of enemies and repeated offenses.
- In his closing argument, the public prosecutor emphasized Liebich's failure to heed numerous warnings, which demonstrates the inappropriateness of a suspended sentence for his incitement to hatred.
- Liebich's defense, however, countered the prosecutor's demands for incarceration, citing his recent positive change of behavior and reduction in political activities as grounds for acquittal.
- In a unique development during the appeal procedure, Liebich announced that the conclusion of the trial could potentially extend beyond ten hours, considering the extensive evidence he intended to present, thereby delaying the pronouncement of the final judgment scheduled for Friday.
