German Minister defends Hungary's conviction of Maja T

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has defended the conviction in Hungary of German national Maja T over their involvement in attacks on alleged right-wing extremists, reported dpa.

"There were extremely serious assaults. One person suffered a fractured skull. That has to result in a conviction," Dobrindt told the RND media group in comments published on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Budapest City Court sentenced Maja T, who identifies as non-binary, to eight years in prison. Judge Jozsef Sos said it had been proven that the 25-year-old from the left-wing scene in Germany took part in violent attacks on alleged right-wing extremists in Budapest.

Around 20 German and other alleged left-wing extremists are said to have injured nine people, four of them seriously.

Because the offences were committed in Hungary, the German minister said he saw no objection to the case being tried there and to a verdict being handed down by a Hungarian court.

Dobrindt described Maja T as belonging to a left-wing extremist group that attacked others with batons, rubber mallets and other weapons.

The first-instance ruling is not yet final. Both Maja T and the public prosecutor's office have announced plans to appeal.

The prosecution presented little evidence during the trial, with no incriminating witness statements or DNA evidence submitted.

Prosecutors argued on the basis of footage taken by a security camera near one of the crime scenes, claiming that Maja T could be seen in these images together with other attackers.

The defence argued that the person supposed to be Maja T was clearly not carrying a weapon.