German court rejects last appeals over neo-Nazi murder spree

A German federal court rejects appeals in the case of a neo-Nazi convicted of supporting a group that carried out the country’s biggest killing spree targeting migrants since World War II — concluding legal proceedings in a saga that shocked Germany.

The Federal Court of Justice upholds Andre Eminger’s 2018 conviction and 2½-year sentence for supporting a terrorist organization, the self-styled National Socialist Underground group. It throws out appeals both from the defendant and from prosecutors, who had objected to his acquittal on other charges including accessory to attempted murder.

Eminger was one of five people convicted by a Munich court over their involvement with the group. Prosecutors considered him to be one of the closest contacts the NSU’s three core members had during their time on the run. He rented an apartment and mobile homes used by the NSU to travel around Germany, though the court said it couldn’t be proved he knew of the planned crimes.

In August, the federal court rejected appeals by three other defendants — including Beate Zschaepe, the only known surviving member of the NSU, who is serving a life sentence. She was convicted of 10 counts of murder for her role in the killing of nine men — eight of Turkish origin and one of Greek heritage — and a police officer between 2000 and 2007.

The fifth defendant in the case withdrew his appeal, so Wednesday’s ruling brings the legal proceedings to a close.