Defense Calls for Fair Trial as Ex-RAF Member Klette Prepares for Court

The former member of the Red Army Faction (RAF), Daniela Klette, is set to make a statement at the beginning of her trial, which follows her arrest in Berlin last year after over three decades on the run. Klette, who has been in custody for a year, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder and armed robbery.

The trial is scheduled to commence on March 25, 2025, at the Landgericht Verden, focusing on 13 robbery incidents. Due to space constraints, the proceedings will take place in the state protection courtroom at the Higher Regional Court of Celle.

Klette's attorney, Lukas Theune, announced that she intends to provide a brief statement on the first day of the trial, expressing a determined outlook regarding the proceedings. The prosecution alleges that Klette, alongside her co-defendants, Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, conducted a series of robberies between 1999 and 2016, netting approximately EUR2.7 million. The trio reportedly targeted cash transporters and supermarkets across Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein, utilizing firearms and electric shock devices to intimidate their victims.

The investigation into Klette and her associates has been ongoing for several years, culminating in her arrest on February 26, 2024, in Berlin-Kreuzberg, where she was discovered living under an alias. The search for her accomplices continues.

Amid these developments, Klette's defense team has raised concerns regarding the conditions of her pre-trial detention. They assert that Klette is receiving special treatment that is not typical for defendants in similar cases. Theune has expressed worries that these conditions may unfairly influence the outcome of the trial.

Reports indicate that Klette is subjected to unusual restrictions in custody, including not being allowed to use the restroom without supervision, facing frequent visitation bans, and having her correspondence monitored. Furthermore, she has reportedly been denied the opportunity to engage in physical exercise for the past six months.

For her transport to court appearances, Klette may be shackled and escorted by special forces armed with automatic weapons, a precaution that her legal team believes is excessive compared to standard practices in robbery cases.

The defense has emphasized that Klette should not be treated more harshly or leniently than any other defendant. They are concerned that the perceived special treatment could impact the severity of her potential sentence.

In addition to the robbery charges, Klette and her co-defendants are also under investigation for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities, with accusations of attempted murder arising from previous RAF attacks. Although the statute of limitations for membership in the RAF has expired, further charges related to their alleged involvement in bombings and other acts of violence are anticipated, which will be addressed in a separate trial.