2024-08-30 14:31:18
The Leipzig District Court is convinced that Melanie Müller performed the Hitler salute at a concert. But the singer does not want to accept her conviction.
Ballermann star Melanie Müller does not accept her conviction for giving the Hitler salute. The 36-year-old’s defense attorney has filed an appeal, the Leipzig District Court announced. A week ago, the court sentenced the former jungle queen to a total fine of 160 daily rates of 500 euros each, or 80,000 euros, for using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations and for drug possession.
According to the court, Melanie Müller had given the Hitler salute several times at a concert in September 2022. In addition, investigators had discovered 0.69 grams of cocaine mixture and an ecstasy tablet during a search of her apartment. In terms of the sentence, the district court judge had gone well beyond the prosecutor’s request. The prosecutor had demanded 95 daily rates of 60 euros each – i.e. 5,700 euros. The defense had pleaded for an acquittal on both charges.
After the written judgment has been served, the defense has one month to specify the legal remedy, emphasized the district court spokesman. In the case of an appeal, the regional court examines the judgment from the first instance in both legal and factual terms. Therefore, the appeal leads to a new hearing of evidence. In the case of an appeal, the higher regional court is responsible. The appeal court only examines whether the judgment was reached in accordance with the procedural rules.
During the trial, Melanie Müller had rejected the accusations through her defense attorney. Her attorney Adrian Stahl had explained that the hand movement was a rousing gesture for the audience. She had made the arm movement at many concerts, to the battle cry: “Zicke Zacke, Zicke Zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi.” Moreover, his client did not have right-wing views and was apolitical.