Press release from families & friends of the Ulm 5 – 8th May 2026
Families demand the German justice system conduct a fair trial; call on Ireland, Spain, and the UK to carry out trial monitoring; echo the defence's call for recusal of entire judicial panel
Trial resumes Monday, 11th May 2026 at 9:00 in Stuttgart
The families and loved ones of the Ulm 5 who attended the trial opening on 27th April in Stuttgart-Stammheim are shocked at the scenes that unfolded in the courtroom: defendants paraded before press and public in handcuffs and in a glass cell, against all international norms including UN recommendations, EU directives, and rulings from the European Court of Human Rights.
Presenting our loved ones like this violates the presumption of innocence and falsely and irreversibly creates an impression of guilt and danger, when in fact the five caused no harm to any persons (nor does the prosecutor allege any), did not resist arrest, were processed peacefully by the police and have been entirely peaceful throughout their eight months of ongoing pre-trial detention.
We were further taken aback at the presiding judge’s evident contempt for the defence and we fully support the lawyers' motion for the recusal of the judges – see their press release from yesterday, 7th May.
The presiding Judge Karin Lauchstädt refused every petition from the defence on the day, without knowing their subject, and previously rejected almost every attempt to speak with her about the conditions of the trial in advance. She also refused permission for the five to sit with their defence counsel – as is the norm in Germany, even for major crimes, of which the Ulm 5 are not accused – claiming that the courtroom technology worked as designed to facilitate communication with their defence counsel. We know this is not true, having spoken with our loved ones since.
Benjamin Düsberg, Daniel’s lawyer says: “After speaking with Daniel I now know that they were unable to follow proceedings due to gaps in the translation. Most of what happened was not translated – only when the court switched on the defence’s microphones. Also, due to the technical set-up, Daniel no longer heard the translator when my colleague Frau Mucha, Daniel’s other lawyer, spoke with Daniel via microphone. Daniel was also unaware of all our attempts to have the handcuffs removed before the five entered the courtroom and of other aspects of the surrounding events, including the presiding judge’s threat to remove the state lawyers from the case”.
Kit, Crow’s sister says: “Crow found the set up of the court intimidating. Being separated from the rest of the court room by a glass box, and only being able to communicate through a microphone and headset made them feel incredibly isolated. They said that it would make such a difference to their experience if they could just sit with their lawyers. Having so many from the community there showing support, and seeing friends and family in the crowd really helped them. Since this first day of the trial, the careful daily routines they use to manage daily life in prison have been disrupted due to overwhelming feelings of anticipation and anxiety regarding the decisions the court has been making.”
As loved ones of the Ulm 5, we are proud of the dignified and peaceful way our loved ones conducted themselves on 27th April.
In advance of the second day of the trial (11th May), we call on our governments – of Ireland, Spain, the UK – to attend to their citizens’ rights and carry out trial monitoring. We call on Germany to follow international, European, and EU standards regarding treatment of defendants, particularly in trial settings. This means that the current judges, including the lay judges, are irreversibly tainted by the presiding judge’s decisions for the first trial day. They should be replaced and the presumption of innocence restored.
Josi, Vi's partner says: “Regardless of what one thinks of the Ulm 5's actions, they deserve a fair trial. The main judge is belligerent and unfit. She is not only disrespecting the five and their lawyers – she is disrespecting due process. To me, the way she is acting indicates she is under external pressure to eschew legal standards and push for a certain outcome. Regardless of the reasons behind her unjustifiable decisions and unreasonable behaviour, she should not merely recuse herself – she should be disbarred.”
This is not just about our loved ones – now, the German justice system itself is on trial.
Families and partners are available for interviews: ulm5family@proton.me www.ulm5.info Instagram: @theulm5