Christina Block trial pauses until 28 October after witness fails to appear

A Hamburg court has cancelled its 14 October hearing in the trial of Christina Block and announced a two-week pause. Proceedings are due to resume on 28 October after a witness failed to appear in the case over the removal of Block’s two youngest children from Denmark. [2]

The witness, Astrid Have, is the wife of Block’s former husband, Stephan Hensel. She was summoned for 13 October but did not attend. The court still sat that day and rejected defence applications; it was the following day’s hearing that was cancelled, according to a TAG24 reporter in court. The court intends to try to hear Have in Denmark, news.de reported. [2] [3]

Block, an heir to the Block House steakhouse chain, has been on trial with six others since July 2025. Prosecutors accuse her of commissioning the forcible removal of the children from their father’s home in Denmark over New Year 2023–24. She denies directing the operation or knowing of the plan. [1] [2]

Her account is disputed by David Barkay and Keren T., who acknowledged helping to plan the operation. They told the court Block met the group shortly beforehand and wished them luck; she denies their account, according to NDR. The trial has yet to reach a verdict. [4]