Christina Block accused of handing letter to expert witness in obstruction attempt at Hamburg child abduction trial

Christina Block with her lawyer Ingo Bott. Source: Marcus Brandt/Pool dpa/dpa

A letter written in Romanian by Christina Block to an expert has caused unrest in the ongoing proceedings. The letter reportedly contains intimate details about co-plaintiff Stephan Hensel and was handed over outside the main hearing. The chamber is now examining whether this constitutes an obstruction of the investigation.

Court Excludes Public from Trial

In the trial concerning the abduction of the Block children, the Hamburg Regional Court has excluded the public. Presiding Judge Isabel Hildebrandt explained that the decision was necessary to protect the interests of the children and co-plaintiffs, who could be harmed by the disclosure of information contained in a youth psychiatric expert's report.

Letter Prompts Accusations of Obstruction

The court's reaction to a letter handed over by Christina Block to expert Mareike Schüler-Springorum caused excitement in the courtroom. The handover occurred outside the main hearing.

"This is an attempt to obstruct the investigation," said Presiding Judge Hildebrandt. The criminal chamber will examine the matter.

Block's defense lawyer, Ingo Bott, described the incident as a regrettable mistake by his client.

Prosecutor Marvin Steinberg stated that while it was an "attempted act," his office would not go so far as to apply for an arrest warrant.

According to co-plaintiff representative Philip von der Meden, the letter—written in Romanian—concerns the sexual sphere of his client, Stephan Hensel. It remains unclear why the letter was written in Romanian. Hensel is Christina Block's ex-husband and the father of the children.

Background of the Case

Hamburg businesswoman Christina Block is accused of commissioning an Israeli security company to abduct her two youngest children—then aged ten and 13—from their father's residence in Denmark, amid a long custody dispute. Block, the daughter of Eugen Block, founder of the "Block House" steakhouse chain, denies the allegations. Six other defendants are also involved in the case.

The Alleged Abduction

According to the indictment:

• The perpetrators ambushed the father and children in southern Denmark while they were watching fireworks at their residence in Gråsten (Gravenstein) on New Year's Eve 2023/2024.
• They allegedly beat up Stephan Hensel and dragged the boy and girl, who resisted, into a car.
• The kidnappers are said to have changed vehicles near the border.
• They taped the children's mouths shut; the daughter was tied by the hands.
• The group then continued in a motorhome to Baden-Württemberg.
• The children stayed there until the mother arrived on January 1, 2024, before continuing to Hamburg.

dpa/nw