The eagerly awaited psychiatric report in the Halle trial certifies that the defendant is fully responsible. „An impairment of the guilty capacity from a psychiatric point of view is not to be assumed,“ said the forensic psychiatrist employed in court today.
It is true that he diagnosed the defendant with a severe complex personality disorder as well as signs of paranoia and autism. The man’s ability to control and the awareness of injustice were not impaired, the expert concluded. Both points are crucial for assessing the culpability.
Indeed meticulously planned
Unlike delusional offenders, the accused planned his act meticulously and was able to wait for an occasion that seemed favorable to him to start the attack. This is what perpetrators who act in a delusional manner are unable to do so. The defendant did not show any understanding or even regret, said the psychiatrist, who spoke and examined the defendant for about twelve hours during his pre-trial detention.
Therefore, it can be assumed with a predominant probability that the man would commit similar acts again if he were able to. On this basis, in the event of a guilty verdict, the court could impose preventive detention after the sentence.
Attack attempt on synagogue in Halle
The attack has been going on since July. On October 9, 2019, a heavily armed man tried to storm the synagogue in Halle in order to cause a massacre on the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. After he couldn’t get into the church, he shot a 40-year-old passer-by and shortly thereafter a 20-year-old in a kebab shop. The 28-year-old German Stephan Balliet confessed to the crimes and justified them with anti-Semitic, racist conspiracy theories. The trial is running before the higher regional court in Naumburg, but takes place in Magdeburg due to lack of space.
