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| Neo-Nazi murders: Beate Zschaepe goes on trial in Germany | Neo-Nazi murders: Beate Zschaepe goes on trial in Germany |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An alleged member of a German neo-Nazi cell has gone on trial in Munich in connection with a series of racially motivated murders. | |
| Beate Zschaepe, 38, is accused of being part of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), which killed 10 people, mostly of Turkish background. | Beate Zschaepe, 38, is accused of being part of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), which killed 10 people, mostly of Turkish background. |
| She faces life in prison if convicted. She denies the murder charges. | |
| The case sparked controversy as police wrongly blamed the murders on the Turkish mafia for several years. | The case sparked controversy as police wrongly blamed the murders on the Turkish mafia for several years. |
| The head of Germany's domestic intelligence service was eventually forced to resign over the scandal. | The head of Germany's domestic intelligence service was eventually forced to resign over the scandal. |
| Four male defendants are also on trial with Ms Zschaepe, facing lesser charges of having helped the NSU. | Four male defendants are also on trial with Ms Zschaepe, facing lesser charges of having helped the NSU. |
| Critics have accused authorities of turning a blind eye to the crimes of right-wing extremists, the BBC'S Steve Evans reports from Munich. | Critics have accused authorities of turning a blind eye to the crimes of right-wing extremists, the BBC'S Steve Evans reports from Munich. |
| Officials deny this, saying mistakes occurred because the murders were spread across different regions, each with different police and security agencies. | Officials deny this, saying mistakes occurred because the murders were spread across different regions, each with different police and security agencies. |
| Ethnic Turkish community groups demonstrated outside the courthouse on Monday demanding justice. | Ethnic Turkish community groups demonstrated outside the courthouse on Monday demanding justice. |
| Execution-style | |
| A crowd of journalists also waited outside, along with dozens of people queuing in the hope of getting seats in the court. About 500 police officers were deployed and nearby streets were cordoned off. | A crowd of journalists also waited outside, along with dozens of people queuing in the hope of getting seats in the court. About 500 police officers were deployed and nearby streets were cordoned off. |
| Ms Zschaepe is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007, as a founding member of the NSU. | Ms Zschaepe is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007, as a founding member of the NSU. |
| She is also accused of involvement in 15 armed robberies, arson and attempted murder in two bomb attacks. | She is also accused of involvement in 15 armed robberies, arson and attempted murder in two bomb attacks. |
| Prosecutors say the aim of the execution-style killings was to spread fear among immigrants and prompt them to leave Germany. | Prosecutors say the aim of the execution-style killings was to spread fear among immigrants and prompt them to leave Germany. |
| Her lawyers say she is refusing to speak in court. Only the trial opening was broadcast, in line with German legal restrictions. | |
| The cell remained undetected until Ms Zschaepe gave herself up in November 2011, after police discovered the bodies of two of her alleged accomplices. | The cell remained undetected until Ms Zschaepe gave herself up in November 2011, after police discovered the bodies of two of her alleged accomplices. |
| Uwe Mundlos, 38, and Uwe Boenhardt, 34, appeared to have shot themselves after a botched bank robbery. | Uwe Mundlos, 38, and Uwe Boenhardt, 34, appeared to have shot themselves after a botched bank robbery. |
| After their deaths, the gun used in the murders of the 10 people was discovered. | After their deaths, the gun used in the murders of the 10 people was discovered. |
| The arson charge against Ms Zschaepe relates to a fire which she is alleged to have started before giving herself up. She told police she was the one they were looking for. | The arson charge against Ms Zschaepe relates to a fire which she is alleged to have started before giving herself up. She told police she was the one they were looking for. |
| She shared a flat in Jena, in the old East Germany, with the two men who were found shot dead. | She shared a flat in Jena, in the old East Germany, with the two men who were found shot dead. |
| In addition, a video emerged showing pictures of the corpses of the victims and identifying the "organisation" behind the murders as the NSU. | In addition, a video emerged showing pictures of the corpses of the victims and identifying the "organisation" behind the murders as the NSU. |
| Only then did the authorities conclude that the killings were the work of neo-Nazis. | Only then did the authorities conclude that the killings were the work of neo-Nazis. |
| They had previously treated families of victims as suspects. | They had previously treated families of victims as suspects. |
| As a result, the trial has taken on a meaning beyond the charges in court, as it is also puts the spotlight on attitudes towards the murder of members of ethnic minority groups, our correspondent says. | As a result, the trial has taken on a meaning beyond the charges in court, as it is also puts the spotlight on attitudes towards the murder of members of ethnic minority groups, our correspondent says. |
| An earlier start date had been set for the trial, but it was delayed for weeks amid a dispute about the seat allocations, as Turkish media were not guaranteed places. | An earlier start date had been set for the trial, but it was delayed for weeks amid a dispute about the seat allocations, as Turkish media were not guaranteed places. |
| Turkish media have now been given four seats, but several leading German newspapers missed out in the lottery, AFP news agency reports. | Turkish media have now been given four seats, but several leading German newspapers missed out in the lottery, AFP news agency reports. |