Fabian murder trial resumes in Rostock: sister testifies, BKA analysis finds defendant egocentric

Trial resumes after four-week pause

The murder trial over the killing of eight-year-old Fabian from Güstrow resumed on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Rostock Regional Court after a four-week break, marking the 20th day of hearings. The prosecution accuses the 30-year-old defendant Gina H. of stabbing Fabian on October 10, 2025, at a pond near Klein Upahl, approximately 15 kilometres south of Güstrow, and subsequently setting the body on fire. The alleged motive relates to her relationship with Fabian's father and a temporary breakup between them. The trial continues on Friday, August 7, with the 21st hearing day scheduled for 9:30.

Sister testifies in court

The defendant's younger sister took the witness stand on Thursday, choosing to testify despite having the right to refuse as a relative. She described Gina H. as capable of being loving but quick to become angry when things did not go her way, saying everything always had to go according to her wishes. The sister accused Gina H. of using lies during their youth to present herself in a better light and to attract attention. The sisters had little contact in recent years, and the witness described a fractured family: she maintained contact with their mother, who she said was worn out due to the trial, while Gina H. had no contact with the mother or the grandparents who raised them.

Tension between the siblings surfaced in the courtroom. When the sister said Gina H. had tried to get through life without working from an early age, the defendant shouted at her.

“Hast Du einen Dachschaden oder was?”

The presiding judge Holger Schütt reprimanded both women. Gina H. has been receiving a 100% disability pension for several years due to a diagnosed mental illness, though her sister indicated doubts about the seriousness of the condition.

BKA communication analysis

A criminal analyst from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) presented a communication analysis to the court's third criminal chamber, based on numerous voice and text messages from the defendant. The analysis found that Gina H. exhibited consistently egocentric behavior toward Fabian's father, even while his son was missing. Her communication typically revolved around her own needs and was marked by little empathy. Fabian's father faced regular accusations from her both during their relationship and during a temporary separation. The BKA experts noted that her communication behavior remained largely unchanged before and after the boy's death.

Childhood and family background

The sister also described their childhood: when they were in elementary school, their single mother became ill, and the grandparents in Reimershagen (Rostock district) took the children in. What was meant as a temporary arrangement became permanent. The sister said the grandmother eventually cut off contact with the mother and falsely claimed the mother did not want the children back. The sister later discovered this was untrue, describing her childhood as built on a lie, something Gina H. refused to accept. During her sister's testimony, Gina H. frequently shook her head or demonstratively touched her forehead.

Upcoming hearings

For Friday's 21st hearing day, the court plans to hear further witnesses, including employees of family assistance services and the youth welfare office, as well as one of Fabian's grandmothers. The grandfather of the defendant, originally scheduled to testify on Friday, will not appear after exercising his right to refuse testimony.