Prisoner Escapes During Court Verdict Announcement

Saarbrücken - A prisoner's escape has sparked a manhunt after he fled during a court hearing at the Saarbrücken District Court. Christoph Erwin Ziegler, 42, who was serving time for charges including drug offenses and theft, was brought to the court for the announcement of his verdict after a lengthy trial process regarding a burglary. The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon, just as the trial was about to reach its conclusion.

At approximately 3 PM, the judge began to deliver the verdict in courtroom 38. However, Ziegler had no intention of returning to prison; he leaped over the prosecution bench and sprinted across the wooden-paneled courtroom. Witnesses reported that the 1.90-meter tall man made a quick dash towards a window. It remains unclear whether the window was already open or if he managed to open it himself.

A correctional officer attempted to apprehend Ziegler during his escape but was unable to hold him back due to the momentum he had gained. The officer sustained minor injuries to his hands in the process. Ziegler, described as wearing black pants and a white shirt, then ran from the courthouse towards the nearby Saarland Parliament, where he subsequently vanished from sight.

This is not the first time a prisoner has escaped from a courtroom in this region. In August 2023, Alaudi Dzhabrailov, an auto thief, managed to escape even while restrained, as he was being escorted from the court to a transport vehicle. Dzhabrailov remains at large.

Authorities have stated that there is currently no indication that Ziegler poses a danger to the public. However, they urge anyone who spots him to contact the police immediately at the emergency number 110 and to refrain from intervening on their own.

Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly reported that Christoph Erwin Ziegler escaped from courtroom 1 on the ground floor of the District Court. He actually jumped from a window in courtroom 38 on the first floor. We apologize for this error.