Nazis abuse parents of man shot dead ‘for being English’
THE parents of a businessman shot dead in Germany for being “English” have slammed British diplomats for abandoning their battle for justice.
Oxford graduate Luke Holland, 31, was gunned down in Berlin in 2015 after being confronted outside a bar by a neo-Nazi who “hated foreigners”.
Rolf Zielezinski, 63, was later arrested at a German right-wing rally and had Nazi memorabilia at his flat. In July 2016 he was jailed for 11d years after being convicted of murder.
But on Monday Luke’s grieving parents told an inquest in Stockport how Zielezinski had originally faced a manslaughter charge and they had to hire their own lawyer to fight for justice.
Phillip and Rita Holland claimed British Foreign Office officials refused to intervene and the couple were forced to run a gauntlet of Nazi thugs as they went to and from the trial.
Mr Holland, 63, a retired communications engineer from Stockport, said: “We received no help from the Foreign Office and we were left on our own. At first Zielezinski was going to be charged with manslaughter and would have received a maximum sentence of five years but we knew this wasn’t right.
“When we went to court in Berlin we were constantly being threatened by Nazis who would shout and scream in our faces. It was really distressing and a really difficult time for us – but we just wanted justice for our boy.”
He said Luke worked as a lawyer for law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London before moving to Berlin to launch a technology business. He had moved to a new area and was with friends at a bar when he stepped outside to answer a call and was shot with a sawn-off shotgun.
Police coroner’s officer Rita Wilkinson said: “Mr and Mrs Holland helped us more than the German authorities regarding the amount of information given to us.”
Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, coroner Alison Mutch said: “His parents have shown dogged determination in ensuring that justice was served in the sentencing of the attacker.”
After the inquest Mr Holland said: “During the trial we actually saw Rolf Zielezinski behind the glass. After he had been sentenced, my wife banged a picture of Luke against the glass for him to see and he stared at it for 10 seconds, looked at her and only said ‘English’. He showed no remorse.” Mrs Holland, 63, added: “We find no beauty in Berlin now.’’
A Foreign Office spokesman said staff “have been in touch with Luke Holland’s family to provide support”.