Beate Zschäpe must serve at least 24 years, Munich court rules

A Munich court ruled that Beate Zschäpe must serve at least 24 years in prison, keeping her behind bars until at least 2035.

Zschäpe has been in custody since November 2011 and was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 for her role in the NSU murders.

The NSU killed 10 people across Germany, including nine business owners of Turkish and Greek origin and a police officer, and carried out two bomb attacks in Cologne.

The court said Zschäpe’s recent admission that she knew of planned murders before they happened counted in her favor, but did not outweigh the seriousness of her crimes.

It rejected her request for early release on parole, though it set the minimum term one year below the 25 years sought by federal prosecutors.

The ruling is not yet final, and either side can challenge it before Germany’s Federal Court of Justice.

Zschäpe’s lawyer said no challenge was currently planned.