Germany - Mielke Murder Trial

(5 Sep 1994) Erich Mielke, former chief of East Germany's Stasi secret police,
went on trial in Berlin on Monday (5/9) on murder charges linked
to the shooting of East Germans who tried to escape over the
Berlin Wall to a better life in the West. The hearing was
interrupted 25 minutes after it began when Mielke's lawyer
challenged the objectivity of the judge. The defence motion
questioned Judge Hans-Georg Braeutigam's motives in visiting,
prior to the trial, the ailing 86-year-old Mielke at the prison
hospital where he is being held. The trial was postponed and no
new opening date was set. Mielke's lawyers are also asking the
court to throw out the charges against him on the grounds that he
is too sick to appear in court.

SHOWS:

BERLIN, GERMANY, 5/9

ext amtesgericht turmstrase
cu tag with mielke's name at doorway
vs of media into court room
ex-head of East Germany's feared Stasi secret police, Erich Mielke
talking to man
cu mielke
mielke sitting down
mielke talking to laywer
cu mielke
ws media
presiding judge Hansgeorg braeutigam into courtroom
people leaving court

ends: 1.48

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