The defendants, known as the "Ulm Five," face charges after allegedly breaking into the Israeli arms manufacturer's facility and damaging its Tactical Data Links laboratory. The defence sought to call weapons expert Dr. Shir Hever and international law professor Isabel Feichtner, but the court ruled the local site had no connection to the Gaza offensive and barred both testimonies. Defence lawyers further noted that police witnesses were instructed by prosecutors not to investigate Elbit Systems' activities relating to Gaza. The Stuttgart regional court confirmed the witness rejections but declined to comment on the presiding judge's conduct.
Key points
The court rejected testimonies from a weapons expert and an international law specialist…: The court rejected testimonies from a weapons expert and an international law specialist concerning the factory's alleged ties to operations in Gaza.
Defence attorney Benjamin Düsberg labelled the proceedings a show trial after the judge d…: Defence attorney Benjamin Düsberg labelled the proceedings a show trial after the judge dismissed technical evidence without specialized knowledge.
The Stuttgart regional court confirmed that the expert witnesses were barred while other…: The Stuttgart regional court confirmed that the expert witnesses were barred while other evidence applications remain pending.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A German court has rejected applications by defence lawyers to hear expert witnesses in an ongoing trial of five activists alleged to have broken into an Israeli-owned arms factory.
Daniel Tatlow-Devally, Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic and Leandra Rollo, who are from Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK, were arrested on 8 September following an alleged break-in on the premises of Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems in the southwestern German city of Ulm.
Known as the “Ulm Five”, the group is accused of damaging the building's glass facade and smashing office equipment, including computers, screens and telephones.
They have been held for over a year in pretrial detention.
Defence lawyers told Middle East Eye that the court has either not responded to or rejected applications to hear from expert witnesses who could give testimony on the arms company’s role in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
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