Lawyer Gabriele Heinecke labeled as a left-wing legal representative

In the summer of 2009, the Regional Court of Munich sentenced former officer Josef Scheungraber to life imprisonment for a murder charge related to a massacre in the north Italian village of Falzano di Cortona on June 26, 1944.

The high-profile trial was presided over by Judge Wolfgang Menzel at Strafbank Munich I. Notable in the court proceedings was the representation of 14 descendants of the murdered by lawyer Gabriele Heinecke.

Heinecke's involvement proved pivotal in the case, as she opened up connections that put Judge Manfred Goetzl under pressure to question the defendant again. This tenacity in pursuing justice earned her recognition in the form of the Fritz Bauer Prize, awarded by the human rights organization Humanistische Union (HU) in Berlin.

Jörg Arnold, a criminal law scholar, compared Heinecke to previous recipients of the Fritz-Bauer Prize, Heinrich Hannover and Christian Ströbele, in his recognition of her significant contributions.

Throughout her career, Heinecke has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, including the legal processing of the NS massacre of Distomo in Greece and the trial against perpetrators of the massacre of Sant'Anna di Stazzema in Italy.

One of her most notable cases was the defence of Safwan Eid, a resident of a refugee home in Lübeck, during the arson attack trial. Her efforts ensured the appointment of fire protection experts, leading to Eid's eventual acquittal after a three-year trial.

Heinecke's commitment extended beyond individual cases, as she has represented people affected by human rights violations committed by states and their organs. She has been a vocal critic of Germany's memory culture, stating that it often serves for self-aggrandizement rather than doing justice to the victims of fascism.

In her acceptance speech, Heinecke discussed the challenges in legally clarifying state crimes, citing examples like Distomo, Sant'Anna di Stazzema, and Oury Jalloh. An exhibition by the AK Distomo, documenting the years-long struggle for compensation, was on display at the award ceremony.

Heinecke's diverse achievements and unwavering commitment to justice have earned her widespread respect and admiration in the legal community. Her work serves as a reminder of the importance of pursuing truth and justice, even in the face of adversity.