A leading female member of an alleged neo-Nazi cell, accused of complicity in a series of brutal murders of immigrants in Germany, has begun her trial in Munich.
Beate Zschäpe is accused of involvement in the racist murders of eight Turks, a Greek and a German policewoman, between 2000 and 2007, as well as two bombings in migrant areas of Cologne.
Facing life imprisonment if convicted, she is also accused of involvement in 15 bank robberies carried out by her accomplices Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Boenhardt, who died in an apparent murder-suicide in November 2011.
Beate Zschäpe arrives at the trial in Munich
The secretive group, National Socialist Underground, had gone apparently unnoticed by authorities for a decade, causing the German government to face serious questions about the risk posed by violent far-right groups, and the failings of the intelligence services.
Four others are also on trial, accused of assisting the group.
Both died after a botched robbery, their bodies found in a burnt-out caravan in Eisenach. Police searching the charred vehicle found the gun that had been used to murder all of the 10 victims.
They also found a DVD which claimed to be introducing the NSU's aims, images of the victims' bodies and a cartoon of the Pink Panther, toting up the number of immigrants murdered, pointing to a flipchart with pictures of those killed.
Police had blamed the "Turkish mafia" and interrogated members of the victims' families.
Zschäpe set fire to the flat she shared with the men in Zwickau and went on the run, but handed herself into the police four days later, saying "I'm the person you are looking for".
Prosecutors allege the group chose "soft targets", the victims owned shops or worked in small business, in order to terrify migrants into leaving the country. They were shot at point-blank range.
She arrived looking defiant, arms folded across her chest at the heavily guarded courtroom, smartly dressed in a white shirt and black suit.
Beate Zschäpe Trial
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(01 of24)
Policemen evacuate a young woman of Turkish origin, who tried to get access to the Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 upon the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU). Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(02 of24)
Policemen evacuate a young woman of Turkish origin, who tried to get access to the Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 upon the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU). Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(03 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe stands in court with her legal team, lawyers Wolfgang Heer, Anja Sturm and Wolfgang Stahl, on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(04 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe enters court on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(05 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe enters court on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(06 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe stands in court with her legal team, lawyers Wolfgang Heer and Wolfgang Stahl, on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(07 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe stands in court with her legal team, lawyers Wolfgang Heer and Wolfgang Stahl, on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(08 of24)
Co-defendant Carsten Schultz (L) hides his face under his hood at the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe, charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), at a Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(09 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe enters court on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(10 of24)
Anja Sturm, lawyer of main defendant Beate Zschaepe, waits at a regional courthouse in Munich, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 prior to the start of the so-called NSU trial. Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), and four co-defendants alleged supporters of the NSU face the Munich's court. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(11 of24)
Anja Sturm, lawyer of main defendant Beate Zschaepe, waits at a regional courthouse in Munich, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 prior to the start of the so-called NSU trial. Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), and four co-defendants alleged supporters of the NSU face the Munich's court. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(12 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe stands in court with her legal team, lawyers Wolfgang Heer, Anja Sturm and Wolfgang Stahl, on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(13 of24)
Policemen survey the building in Munich, southern Germany on May 6, 2013, after the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe, who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), and four co-defendants alleged supporters of the NSU. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(14 of24)
Policemen survey the building hosting the regional court in Munich, southern Germany on May 6, 2013, after the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe, who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), and four co-defendants alleged supporters of the NSU. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(15 of24)
Men hold a black wreath in a tribute to alleged killed victims of the socalled National Socialist Underground (NSU) trio outside the building hosting a regional court in Munich, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 at the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe, charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed NSU. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(16 of24)
A man holds the portrait of Abdurrahim Ozudogru, the alleged second killed victim of the socalled National Socialist Underground (NSU) trio outside the building hosting a regional court in Munich, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 at the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe, charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed NSU. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(17 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe enters court with law enforcement officers on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(18 of24)
Journalists take pictures of Beate Zschaepe (R) who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), prior to the start of her trial at a Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(19 of24)
Policemen surround two young women of Turkish origin, who try to get access to the Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 upon the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU). Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(20 of24)
Policemen evacuate a young woman of Turkish origin, who tried to get access to the Munich courthouse, southern Germany, on May 6, 2013 upon the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU). Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
NSU Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Starts In Munich(21 of24)
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Defendant Beate Zschaepe stands in court on the first day of the NSU neo-Nazi murder trial on May 6, 2013 in Munich, Germany. The main defendant, Beate Zschaepe, is on trial for her role in assisting Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos in the murder of nine immigrants and one policewoman across Germany between 2000 and 2007, and four other co-defendants, including Ralf Wohlleben, Holder G., Carsten S. and Andre E., are accused of assisting the trio. Zschaepe, Mundlos and Boehnhardt lived together for years undetected by police and called themselves the National Socialist Underground, or NSU. The case only came to light after Mundlos and Boehnhardt committed suicide after the two were cornered by police following a bank robbery in 2011. (Photo by Joerg Koch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(22 of24)
Journalists and policemen surround Munich's mayor Christian Ude (C) as he listens to two young women of Turkish origin, who try to get access to the courthouse on May 6, 2013 upon the start of the trial of Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU). Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-FARRIGHT-TRIAL-TURKEY(23 of24)
Policemen and journalist watch as the car (R) transporting Beate Zschaepe who is charged with complicity in the murders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immigrant and a German policewoman between 2000 and 2007 as a founding member and sole survivor of the far-right gang dubbed the National Socialist Underground (NSU), arrive at a Munich courthouse, southern Germany, prior to the start of her trial on May 6, 2013. Germany's most high-profile neo-Nazi trial begins after 10 mostly racially motivated murders by a long-hidden far-right gang which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a 'disgrace' for the country. AFP PHOTO / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN (Photo credit should read GUENTER SCHIFFMANN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Neo-Nazi Bank Robbers Linked To Murder Series And Bombings(24 of24)
ZWICKAU, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 13: A view of the burnt-out remains of the apartment that was once the residence of NSU murder trio Uwe Mundlos, Uwe Boehnhardt and Beate Zschaepe on November 13, 2011 in Zwickau, Germany. The bodies of Boehnhardt and Mundlos were found in a burnt-out caravan last week in Eisenach after the men reportedly robbed a bank, were pursued by police and committed suicide. Zschaepe turned herself in after detonating an explosive in the Zwickau apartment. Police investigators have found a treasure trove of evidence in the remains of the apartment that indicate the men murdered policewoman Michele Kiesewetter in Heilbronn 2007 as well as ten mostly Turkish small-business owners across Germany between 2000 and 2006. Police also found home-made DVDs that show the men were responsible for a bombing in an immigrant-heavy neighborhood in Cologne in 2004 that injured 22 people. Mundlos, Boehnhardt and Zschaepe were all active members of a neo-Nazi group called the ÒThueringer HeimatschutzÓ until they disappeared by changing their identities in 1998 following a police raid that uncovered explosives and pipe bombs. Lawmakers have announced plans to launch hearings into the case in order to uncover why law enforcement officers failed to connect the crimes earlier and why the three accused were released after the raid in 1998. (Photo by Marco Prosch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Zschäpe has vowed not to speak during the trial. The proceedings have been delayed for weeks because of police would not guarantee Turkish media a seat in the trial.
Zschäpe’s lawyers have already attempted to postpone or disrupt proceedings, claiming the judge is biased against the defence council.
There were scuffles outside court when she arrived, with many from the German-Turkish community furious at the police at their perceived sluggishness to link the crimes with neo-Nazi activity. The government has launched an enquiry into the failings.
Estranged relatives of Zschäpe are due to testify at the trial, scheduled to last until early next year.