Rocker trial in Hamburg: mother and daughter convicted of complicity in murder

Rocker trial in Hamburg: mother and daughter convicted of complicity in murder

In a spectacular and sensational trial, the Hamburg district court convicted two women of aiding and abetting attempted murder. The verdicts were announced on July 14, 2025 and shine a spotlight on the dark world of rocker crime in northern Germany.

The two defendants, a 57-year-old mother and her 37-year-old daughter, were each sentenced to two years and one year in prison, respectively. Both women must also pay at least 250,000 euros to the victim. The presiding judge made it clear that the two were not present on the day of the attack, which was carried out on a boss of the “Hells Angels” in St. Pauli on the night of August 27, 2018. A third defendant, the mother's 36-year-old daughter, was acquitted because incriminating evidence could not be proven in a telephone conversation. However, the judgment is not yet final.

Background of the crime

What exactly happened that night? A car pulled up next to the Hells Angels boss's Bentley and a passenger opened fire. The shots injured the victim so badly that he has been paralyzed ever since. The person responsible for the attack, who is in the hierarchy of the rocker group “Mongols”, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2020. The shooter, the client's father, and his girlfriend at the time also received heavy sentences.

Rocker crime is a serious issue that has increased in Germany. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, rocker groups are often involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion and violence. The aggressiveness between the different clubs, especially between the Mongols and the Hells Angels, shows how deep the hostility runs. Such violent conflicts can lead to serious crimes and put a strain on social life. Personal conflicts often result in brutal violence carried out with firearms or other dangerous equipment. These scenarios shed a dark light on the depths of the rocker world, which is characterized by strict internal rules, high loyalty among members and an almost complete aversion to cooperating with the authorities. The BKA therefore continuously carries out investigations against such groups.

A process with an uncertain end

The trial itself began in April 2024 and has aroused significant public interest. While the public prosecutor demanded more than five years in prison for the mother and around three years for the daughter, the defense argued for an acquittal for both. The verdicts show that the justice system is ready to send clear signals even in the world of rockers, even if the defendants were not directly at the crime scene at the time.

How everything will develop remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the shadow of rocker crime casts a long shadow over cities and towns, and the population can only hope that such acts of violence will not occur in the future.

For more information on this exciting case, you can read the reporting from NDR and t online track. If you would like to take a closer look at the structure and activities of rocker groups, you should visit the website Federal Criminal Police Office recommended.