Families and lawyers of pro-Palestine defendants demand judge recusal over German ‘sham’ trial

Families and lawyers of pro-Palestine defendants demand judge recusal over German ‘sham’ trial Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 15:10 Activists were held behind bullet proof glass, making confidential communication with lawyers impossible The "Ulm Five" from left to right: Daniel Tatlow-Devally, Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic and Leandra Rollo (supplied) Off The families and lawyers of five pro-Palestine activist defendants facing trial in a German court have denounced the proceedings as a “sham trial” and called for the recusal of the presiding judge. The activists, who are from Germany, Spain , Ireland and the UK , were arrested on 8 September following the alleged break-in to the premises of Elbit Systems in the southwestern German city of Ulm. The group - Daniel Tatlow-Devally, Zo Hailu, Crow Tricks, Vi Kovarbasic and Leandra Rollo - are accused of damaging the building's glass facade and smashing office equipment, including computers, screens and telephones.