Trial against “Kim Neuland”, Third ad Last Day

+++ motion to hear evidence sustained: RWE & Innogy board members summoned as witnesses +++ Last day of the trial against “Kim Neuland” from the Hambach Forest: Friday, 5 October 2018, 9:15 am, Düren Amtsgericht (district court) +++

On Friday, October 5th, 2018, the criminal trial of “Kim Neuland” will be continued at 9:15 am in Düren district court. The court has summoned the members of the management board of RWE AG and Innogy SE as witnesses for this final trial day on the basis of a permissible evidence request from the defense.

The anarchist, who is listed by the authorities as “Kim Neuland”, is accused, among others, because of “disturbance of public enterprises” according to §316b StGB. By participating in two blockade actions of the so-called “coal bunker” at the open pit Hambach, she allegedly endangered the public power supply. In the “coal bunker” the mined lignite is temporarily stored for use in the power plants.

The defense sees no danger to the power supply. So they submitted a request for evidence on the last day of the hearing, stating: “The power plants of RWE AG and innogy SE produce dozens of terrawatt hours per year, which are sold abroad. The sales are agreed months in advance. […] The power plants were thus not used for public supply according to §316b StGB.”

The court sustained the motion to hear evidence. Thus, on Friday the RWE board members Schmitz and Krebber as well as the innogy board members Bünting, Günther, Hahn, Herrmann and Müller are summoned to inform the court about the use of electricity from the power plants. Thus will also be discussed before the court that lignite-based power generation is not even necessary for power supply in Germany.

“We are curious if even one of the board members will show up and answer questions about brown coal mining and combustion or if they show once again that while anarchists and environmental activists should be accountable to the courts, but the laws can be disregarded by large corporations and their leaders. We are also looking forward to see if the court shows that it is once again on the side of RWE or whether a serious questioning of the RWE and innogy boards is possible.”, defendant Neuland said.

“We would like to argue about the usefulness of lignite with the boards, but fear that the court – like courts for centuries – above all, will protect the capital of the wealthy.”

Since this is the last scheduled trial day on the part of the court, there can also be a verdict on this Friday. The trial therefore promises to be exciting in any case. All interested are therefore cordially invited.

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