Three men are on trial for alleged extortion involving the Schumacher family, with one accused of demanding 15 million euros while threatening to release private images online. The main defendant admitted to possessing these images and expressed remorse, claiming he planned to return them for a fee. The case also implicates a former security employee and a nurse, both accused of involvement. The Schumacher family is participating as co-plaintiffs, emphasizing their interest in the proceedings.
Trial of Alleged Extortionists Begins
Three men, aged between 30 and 53, are currently facing trial, with only one in custody as the alleged primary offender. The individual from Wuppertal stands accused of serious attempted extortion, while the other two men are charged with aiding and abetting his actions.
Serious Allegations of Extortion
The indictment reveals that the accused extortionist demanded a staggering sum of 15 million euros, threatening to release private images and videos of the Schumacher family on the dark web if his demands were not met. Following the severe head injury suffered by Michael Schumacher in a skiing accident in late 2013, his family has maintained a low profile, making any private photos or videos of them exceedingly rare.
During the trial’s opening, the main defendant confessed to possessing private images of Michael Schumacher and his family, which he intended to return for financial compensation. He expressed full accountability for his actions, stating, “I take full responsibility for this. I messed up,” and offered a heartfelt apology to Corinna Schumacher, who is a co-plaintiff in the case.
According to the main defendant, he obtained the images from a man in Wülfrath, who is also implicated in the case as an accomplice. This individual, previously employed by a security firm tasked with protecting the Schumacher family, allegedly copied around 1,500 private images and videos. Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, confirmed that this man was a “valued employee” known for his technical skills.
A statement from the charged employee indicated that he was dismissed following a dispute with the security company’s head. Upon cleaning out his space, he noticed his belongings had been disturbed and realized the hard drive containing the photos was missing. He did not provide any information regarding the extortion attempts.
The primary defendant further claimed that the extortion money was meant to be divided among three individuals: himself, the former employee of the Schumacher family, and a previous nurse of Schumacher’s who was reportedly facing financial difficulties. This nurse was mentioned for the first time in court today.
According to manager Sabine Kehm, this nurse was let go for various reasons, including inadequate care. The main defendant also accused her of having access to the private photos.
The indictment outlines that the Wuppertal man allegedly tried to extort the 15 million euros through multiple phone calls to the Schumacher family. A family employee residing in Switzerland requested a sample of the material as proof, which was sent from an untraceable email address. However, Swiss authorities managed to trace the number back to Kassel.
The district court has confirmed that the Schumacher family is actively participating as co-plaintiffs in the trial, allowing them to represent their interests throughout the proceedings. Notably, Corinna Schumacher was absent from the courtroom during the trial’s initial session.
In a bid to respect the privacy of the Schumacher family, WDR will refrain from disclosing any comments made by the defendants regarding the content of the mentioned photos during the trial coverage.
Our sources indicate that SWR4 BW Studio Friedrichshafen covered this story on December 10, 2024, at 06:30 AM.