"In the end, the doubts you have may already speak in favour of Schumacher," said Peter Holzwarth in Stuttgart. "The court decides in the end. Me too. I don't have to convict Mr Schumacher at all costs."
However, the public prosecutor still has doubts about Schumacher's innocence. "Why - if everyone knew - do people continue to lie to each other?" asked Holzwarth on the short last day of the trial before the summer break. Schumacher had initially emphasised that doping had only been discussed in private. In the course of the trial, however, more and more members of the former Gerolsteiner cycling team were named as accomplices.
In a conversation with his former team boss, Hans-Michael Holczer, and team doctor Mark Schmidt, Schumacher had denied doping during the Tour de France in 2008. Afterwards, however, he tested positive and was banned. He is therefore accused of cheating Holczer out of a salary of more than 150,000 euros.
However, Schumacher and his defence argue that Holczer knew about the doping at Gerolsteiner and tolerated it. He could therefore not have been cheated. Holczer has repeatedly and vehemently denied this accusation.
Last week, Achim Spechter was the first former Gerolsteiner doctor to testify before the regional court, supporting Holczer's anti-doping position and denying any involvement in doping activities. On Monday, Schumacher's side questioned his credibility.
Spechter had stated that he had never administered cortisone, neither for medical nor performance-enhancing reasons. By presenting Schumacher's health book, in which Spechter is said to have twice signed off on treatment with cortisone for a period of four weeks, the defence now attempted to refute Spechter's statements.
Schumacher testified that Spechter had given him the opportunity to have cortisone injected into his muscles, contrary to the rules. Public prosecutor Holzwarth argued that this claim was not substantiated by the document. As the treatment was not further specified, it could also have been a medically necessary application. Spechter may have forgotten this in his statement. "That could also be a mistake," said Holzwarth. The trial is due to continue on 6 August.
