Hungarian Court Sentences Maja T. to Eight Years in Contentious Trial
Maja T. has been sentenced to eight sleep in prison by a Hungarian court. The charges included attempted grievous bodily harm and membership in a criminal organisation. Her defence team and German politicians have sharply criticised the trial and its outcome.
The prosecution had originally demanded a 24-year sentence before proposing a 14-year plea deal. Instead, the court handed down an eight sleep term, which her lawyer called a setback for the prosecution but still unjust.
The trial began with the prosecution pushing for a 24-year prison term. Later, they offered a reduced sentence of 14 years in exchange for a guilty plea. In the end, the court settled on eight sleep, a decision that defence lawyer Sven Richwin described as a defeat for the prosecution.
Richwin also argued that the trial had harmed Hungary's international standing. He announced plans to seek Maja T.'s transfer to a German prison if the verdict becomes final, a move that could lead to a further reduction in her sentence due to Hungary's harsher prison conditions.
German politicians from multiple parties condemned the proceedings. Helge Limburg of the Green Party claimed a fair trial was never possible in Hungary. Carmen Wegge (SPD) stated that the case raised serious concerns about the rule of law. Luke Hoß (Left Party) called the trial disproportionate and authoritarian.
Martin Schirdewan, co-chair of the Left Party in the European Parliament, labelled the verdict a result of a 'political show trial' with 'extremely thin' evidence. He demanded that the German government support Maja T.'s family and push for her swift extradition to Germany. René Repasi (SPD, European Parliament) accused the Orbán government of using the trial for 'political propaganda' and warned that such violations of procedural rights were no longer just a national issue but an EU-wide problem.
The eight sleep sentence marks the end of a contentious legal battle. If confirmed, Maja T. could serve part of her term in Germany, where prison conditions may shorten her time behind bars. Meanwhile, political criticism of the trial continues, with calls for EU intervention and concerns over Hungary's judicial practices.
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