by In the trial against singer Gil Ofarim, an allegation of bias appears against the presiding judge. The president explains what it is about.
Update November 16th, 2:44 pm: A previously unknown witness could give a new direction to Ofarim’s trial. In the midst of a thorough analysis of surveillance video from the hotel lobby, the musician’s defense announced that a man had contacted them. He also reportedly had negative experiences at the hotel in question. This reports focus.de.
Around six months before the incident, which is currently being investigated by the Leipzig Regional Court, the hotel receptionist reportedly said something to the guest that could be interpreted as racist. So, when asked to present VAT, the worker replied: “We are still in Germany”.
It is not known whether it is the hotel manager who accuses Ofarim of defamation. The man has not yet testified in court. The information comes from the defense. The judge wants to decide later whether or not to call the man to the witness stand.
Surveillance video should clarify: Did Ofarim actually wear a Star of David at the hotel?
Update November 16, 11:49 am: Did Gil Ofarim even wear a Star of David necklace? On the fifth day of the trial, forensic expert Dirk Labudde was asked if this could somehow be documented, he reports. focus.de. The Star of David cannot be seen on the surveillance video.
Labudde explains: When small objects are far from the camera, they are harder to see because the pixels become smaller. Gil Ofarim’s Star of David, therefore, “does not appear in the recording like the one in the comparison image”.
At a certain point in the video you can see a flash. A reflection, says Labudde. But isn’t the flash too much, asks the defense. The expert responds: “The surface may be larger than the reflected object, which would not be unusual.”
Update November 16, 6:32 am: The trial of musician Gil Ofarim continues on Thursday. The explanations of the expert who evaluated the recordings from the surveillance cameras continue. It is also about the behavior of those involved in the hotel lobby. Additional witnesses will also be heard. It remains to be seen whether they will reach the Leipzig regional court. Ultimately, GDL’s warning strike will likely largely bring rail traffic to a halt.
The day before, digital forensic expert Dirk Labudde had already contradicted the musician’s report. A chain with a Star of David was not visible from the moment you entered the lobby until you left the hotel. Ofarim himself has remained silent until now in court.
Expert contradicts Ofarim: Chain with Star of David was not visible
Update November 15th, 9:23 pm: In the trial against Jewish musician Gil Ofarim for defamation and false suspicion, an expert contradicted an important representation of the artist. From entering the lobby to leaving a hotel in Leipzig, no net with a Star of David was visible, said forensic expert Dirk Labudde at the Leipzig regional court on Wednesday.
According to the expert, the chain with the Star of David only became visible when Ofarim recorded the Instagram video in front of the hotel. To do this, the digital forensic expert evaluated the recordings from surveillance cameras in an extensive process. Expert testimony at the trial will continue on Thursday.
Now the judge in the Ofarim case is accused of bias
Update November 15th, 1:32 pm: Now Judge Stadler is shaking hands at Ofarim’s trial. A lawyer’s letter is considered a plea for bias against the president. He himself explains that he has been active politically since 2022 focus.de reported. The decision on how to deal with this will be made next week, outside the general assembly.
Stadler gave a talk on the topic of extremism to the Judges’ Association. The title: “There are no enemies of the Constitution in the public service – how the constitutional State and democracy can arm themselves against extremists”.
Ofarim Trial: Surveillance Video Faked? Now an expert speaks
Update November 15th, 1:12 pm: Is the video of Ofarim’s trial really real? Yes, says an expert according to the dpa news agency. The recordings were not faked; he personally protected them after the incident on police orders. “Manipulation is unthinkable.”
The 51-year-old also contradicts the defense’s claim that hotel surveillance video was shown to witnesses before the police investigation. The technician was unable to explain how and when this should have happened.
Ofarim trial: Hotel lobby surveillance video visible to public for first time
Update November 15th, 12:26 pm: More witness statements are expected on Wednesday in the trial against musician Gil Ofarim at the Leipzig Regional Court. The day before, a witness had not confirmed the report that Ofarim had been discriminated against by a hotel manager because of his Star of David. Again Daily Mirror reported, a report from digital forensics expert Dirk Labudde, who assessed the incident using hotel lobby surveillance cameras, will also be presented on Wednesday. But there are no sound recordings.
Surveillance video from hotel lobby at Ofarim trial is visible to the public for the first time
Update November 15th, 6:55am: Shortly before the end of the third day of the trial against Gil Ofarim, the singer’s defense requested the presentation of new evidence. The data would be kept on a pendrive and, according to the judge, would be evaluated in one of the next few days, he said. focus.de. Either way, things will be exciting on the fourth day of testing. Surveillance video from the hotel will be shown in court and will be available to the public for the first time. In addition, other witnesses must be interviewed.
Update November 14th, 3:10 pm: According to the witness, Gil Ofarim’s report that a hotel manager discriminated against him because of his Star of David did not correspond to his personal perception. The 58-year-old was close to the singer during check-in focus.de reported from the court.
So there was a long queue at the hotel reception. The witness admits that he did not hear what the hotel manager and Ofarim discussed during check-in at the hotel. But at the counter the singer “made phone calls and gestured”. He therefore felt Ofarim upset. “He got angry and then started to be confrontational,” the witness said. He got the impression that the musician was upset “about not being taken out of line and given extra treatment.” However, this is just his subjective perception, according to the witness. focus.de he emphasized.
Another witness incriminates Ofarim on the third day of the trial – without being aware of any discrimination
Update November 14th, 12pm: Another witness is expected to speak on the third day of the trial of singer Gil Ofarim. How focus.de According to other reports, this was a regular guest at the hotel. The witness received his room card separately from the hotel staff and said he could not contribute anything further to the clarification.
According to this, the man probably noticed the discontent in the queue “through Mr. Ofarim”, but was not aware of it. Asked by the Public Prosecutor’s Office whether the witness had noticed the use of the phrase “pack your star”, relevant in the trial, he responded in the negative.
Original message from November 14, 2023: Leipzig – Did a hotel manager discriminate against Gil Ofarim because of his Star of David? Or is the Jewish musician lying? This is what should clarify the trial against 41-year-old Ofarim, which began on Tuesday, November 7, at the regional court in Leipzig. A surprise appears to have occurred now on the third day of the trial. As focus.de reported that a new witness contacted the Public Prosecutor’s Office. This therefore puts pressure on the singer.
Ofarim trial: Surprise on the third day of trial – new witness comes forward and incriminates singer
As the portal progresses, the new witness contacted the Public Prosecutor’s Office by telephone. The trigger was the trial report. Thus, the Brandenburg witness remembered that he was directly behind Gil Ofarim in the hotel lobby during the incident in question. As focus.de Furthermore, the witness claims to have heard “no insult” from the hotel employee. According to District Attorney Ricken, it currently cannot be said whether the witness’ account is accurate.
The 41-year-old Munich-born man is in the dock on charges of, among other things, defamation and false suspicion. In early October 2021, the musician made serious accusations of anti-Semitism against the manager of a hotel in Leipzig in an Instagram video. Ofarim was instructed to take off the Star of David and only then would he be allowed to check in, the singer alleged. However, after extensive investigations by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, charges were brought against Ofarim. The case against the hotel manager was dropped.
