Michael Schumacher Family Blackmail Attempt Leads to Guilty Verdicts for Three
The German judiciary has found all three defendants guilty in the attempted blackmail case involving the family of former Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher.
Convictions and Sentences
- The main defendant, a 53-year-old man, was sentenced to three years in prison for attempted blackmail.
- His 30-year-old son received a six-month suspended sentence for aiding and abetting.
- A former security guard for the Schumacher family, charged with aiding and abetting blackmail, was sentenced to two years on probation.
Alleged Extortion Plot
According to the prosecution, the perpetrators had obtained private photographs and other sensitive data belonging to the Schumacher family. They allegedly demanded a payment of 15 million euros or threatened to release the data on the darknet. As proof, they sent some files to the family.
Evidence and Investigation
The prosecution presented evidence of 900 photographs, 600 videos, and the digitized medical records of Michael Schumacher that had been seized. However, one hard drive remained missing.
Defendants’ Responses
The main defendant and his son confessed to the charges. The third defendant, the former security guard, denied the accusations and pleaded for acquittal. His lawyer argued that his client had not stolen the sensitive data, which had been offered to various witnesses before 2024.
Prosecutor’s Demands
The prosecutor sought a three-year sentence for the main defendant for particularly severe blackmail and a four-month suspended sentence for his son for aiding and abetting. He emphasized that the 53-year-old had exploited Michael Schumacher’s tragic accident and the family’s situation. For the former security guard, he requested a one-year suspended sentence for aiding and abetting, accusing him of seeking revenge after being dismissed and having a falling out with the family.
Defendants’ Statements in Court
During the trial, the court played recordings of the 53-year-old defendant’s phone calls. In these calls, he offered to reveal the identity of the person behind the blackmail scheme. In his confession, he implicated the ex-security guard, claiming to have received the two hard drives from him. The security guard, in turn, alleged that he had obtained the material from a former nurse employed by the Schumachers. Investigations were initiated against the nurse during the trial.
Legal Status
The verdict is not yet legally binding.
Michael Schumacher’s Condition
Formula 1’s record world champion Michael Schumacher suffered severe injuries in a skiing accident in late 2013. He has not appeared in public since then.
