A long-running criminal case against former Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) MEP Gunnar Beck has collapsed in spectacular form at a German district court, bringing an end to a series of accusations that had shifted dramatically in scope over two years. Beck, an academic and former member of the EU Parliament, had been pursued by authorities since 2022 over claims that he robbed and assaulted staff in a department store in the city of Neuss—an allegation that carried a potential 15-year sentence. The accusation later morphed into alleged theft of €350 worth of goods, and finally into petty theft valued at no more than €20. Rather jarringly, at the appeal hearing this week, witnesses told the court they could not recall the alleged events, nor could they identify any stolen items or injuries. Crucially, none of the objects found on Beck at the time of his arrest had ever been sold in the Neuss shop. To add insult to injury, scarf initially presented as stolen was proven to have been legally purchased by Beck in another country more than three decades earlier. The kangaroo court ordered the discontinuation of the theft and assault claims on 21 November, with only a minor finding related to “verbal resistance” against police officers remaining—something Beck firmly denies. The former MEP argued that any sharp words would have been understandable given that he was confronted by “four strong men, all of whom were easily twice my size and half my age.” theburkean.ie/articles/2025/…
