Murder trial of Fabian from Güstrow: Shoe prints at the pond implicate the accused

He was surprised that neither woman appeared deeply affected. Furthermore, Gina H. repeatedly and unprompted emphasized that she had left traces at the pond because she had found the child there. The defense pointed out that these were circumstantial evidence and the presumption of innocence applied.

Testimony of the Police Officer

The focus of the fifth month of proceedings is on shoe print traces around the pond. Forensic experts secured prints from two different shoes, the tread pattern of which matches the shoe model that was seized from Gina H. However, a shoe sole expert could not confirm that they were indeed her shoes, as the prints in the ground were too indistinct.

If the prints originated from two different shoes belonging to the accused, investigators estimate she was at the body's discovery site at least twice. The prosecution assumes that at least one of these visits took place on the day of the crime, October 10, 2025. The defense objected that no timeframe could be derived from the prints of ordinary shoes.

Shoe Prints as Central Evidence

The prosecution accuses Gina H. of luring Fabian from his mother's apartment in Güstrow, stabbing him near Klein Upahl, and later setting the body on fire. Investigators cite the 30-year-old's belief that Fabian was standing in the way of a reconciliation with his father, who had separated from her in August 2025, as the motive. According to the indictment, Fabian was killed with six stab wounds.

Investigators also found prints that could have originated from Fabian's shoes. Since his shoes were almost completely burned, new comparison samples were procured and compared with the traces on the pond bank. From this, the prosecution concludes that Fabian reached the pond on foot and was not brought there dead from another crime scene.

In terms of court procedure, the court used a 3-D laser scanner for the first time to inspect the crime scene, as the presiding judge explained. The court thus replaced the originally planned on-site inspection at the pond. When a picture of Fabian's body was shown, the accused reportedly hid her face in her hands at times.

Further Proceedings and Request for Exclusion of the Public

The defense did not rule out that Gina H. might break her silence this month. However, before making a decision, she wants to await the testimony of further witnesses. On Thursday, the main hearing will continue with the presentation of the autopsy report by the forensic pathologist.

Fabian's mother, through her lawyer, has requested the exclusion of the public and the media during the presentation of the autopsy report. The lawyer argued that Fabian had personality rights even after his death, the protection of which outweighs the public interest in forensic details. The court will decide on the request on Thursday.

The main hearing has already been ongoing for five weeks. The defense has consistently emphasized, according to its own statements, that the evidence consists exclusively of circumstantial evidence. The trial will continue on Thursday.

Gina H. was arrested in November 2025. She is accused of treacherous murder. According to the prosecution, the indictment is based on 14 incriminating pieces of circumstantial evidence, including the shoe prints, her behavior at the discovery site, and the alleged motive.

The presiding judge pointed out that the presumption of innocence applies to the accused until a legally binding verdict is reached. Observers expect the defense to increasingly attack the quality of the incriminating evidence in the coming court days.