Munich landlord on trial for violent sledgehammer eviction attempt

A 48-year-old landlord is facing trial at the Landgericht München I after an alleged violent attempt to forcibly evict a tenant from a Munich apartment. The defendant largely admitted to the charges during the start of the proceedings.

According to the prosecution, the landlord used a sledgehammer to smash a terrace door on July 20, 2025. The tenant, who was attempting to hold the door shut from the inside, sustained deep lacerations to his face and body from the shattering glass. The indictment further alleges that both the landlord and a second defendant, who intended to rent the apartment, struck the victim in the back of the head, resulting in a concussion.

The landlord, who claimed to have been close friends with the 46-year-old tenant in the past, cited financial pressure and the desire to sell or re-rent the property at a higher rate as motives. While the defense is seeking a suspended sentence, the prosecution has argued against leniency, citing the organized nature of the intimidation and the fear caused within the neighborhood.