Six and a half years after the arson at a gym in Nauen, Brandenburg, which was intended as a refugee accommodation, the proceedings against the main perpetrator have been finally concluded.
According to a statement on Wednesday, the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe confirmed the total prison sentence of eight years and three months imposed by the Potsdam Regional Court in August 2021. The review of the judgment requested by the accused did not result in any errors of law. With this decision by the third criminal senate, the proceedings have been concluded with final and binding effect. (3 StR 443/21)
In February 2021, the Federal Court of Justice had already confirmed the guilty verdict for arson, attempted coercion and property damage. In August 2021, the Potsdam Regional Court sentenced the perpetrator to a total of more than eight years in prison in what is now the third legal process. The Federal Court of Justice has now rejected the appeal filed by the accused.
According to the findings of the court in his home town of Nauen, the accused Maik Schneider has been one of the leading figures in the right-wing scene for years and was a city councilor for the NPD.
On the night of August 24/25, 2015, he set fire to a sports hall that was supposed to house around 150 refugees temporarily. The hall burned down completely, and the reconstruction cost 3.9 million euros.