The German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) has rejected appeals filed by both the prosecution and the defendant in the case concerning Stephan B., the perpetrator of the Halle attack, regarding his actions leading to a hostage situation within Burg Prison. The court announced its decision on Tuesday, May 15, 2025, solidifying the verdict originally issued by the Stendal Regional Court on February 27, 2024.
Stephan B. was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Regional Court for hostage-taking combined with the illegal possession and handling of a firearm. The court also recognized claims for pain and suffering damages by the victims.
The incident occurred on December 12, 2022, while B. was serving a life sentence for murder and related offenses at the Justizvollzugsanstalt Burg. He attempted to escape the prison facility, during which he took two correctional officers hostage. Following the release of one officer, the second managed to escape during the flight attempt, leading B. to abandon his plan.
The prosecution’s appeal, contesting the court’s decision not to impose a preventative detention order (Sicherungsverwahrung), was deemed unfounded. The Regional Court had previously reasoned that the need for public protection was already sufficiently addressed by the earlier ruling of the Naumburg Higher Regional Court. The defendant’s appeal regarding aspects of the adhesion decision was also rejected, with the exception of a minor formal amendment. Consequently, the verdict is now legally binding.
